Hespen set to retire in January

Dodge County Sheriff Steve Hespen submitted a letter to the Dodge County Board of Supervisors Wednesday morning announcing his retirement.
Hespen has served the citizens of Dodge County for 34 years, including the past 15 at the sheriff.
“Steve, we did receive, regretfully, your letter of resignation,” Chairman Bob Missel said. “We thank you for your service.”
Hespen’s retirement is effective at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 28, 2022. In the letter, he said it was important to him that the transition to an interim sheriff is done with minimal disruption to the sheriff’s office.
“I want to acknowledge your note that you would be willing to assist in the process of appointment,” Missel said.
“Anything that I can do to help make (the transition) smooth, I would like to do,” Hespen told the supervisors.
Supervisor Pat Tawney, who is also a captain for the Fremont Fire Department, enjoyed working with the sheriff.
“It has been a pleasure, Steve,” he said. “We’ve worked together a long time and we’ve always gotten along good. … Happy retirement.”
Hespen said all of the law enforcement and fire departments had a good working relationship.
“I think all of the departments got along well over the years,” he said. “That says a lot about all of them.”