District Attorney nearing retirement
Tim Baxter
By Ted Pennekamp
Crawford County District Attorney Tim Baxter will be retiring after 30 years of dedicated service to the safety of county residents.
Baxter began as DA in 1990, and his retirement will become effective on Jan. 3, 2020. He said he has no immediate plans but, in the future, he may consider special prosecutor appointments in order to fill in as needed around the state.
Baxter was first elected Crawford County DA at the age of 26, the youngest elected DA in Wisconsin. He is now the longest tenured elected DA in the state.
“It (district attorney) is equal parts infuriating and rewarding at times,” said Baxter. “However, the rewards in keeping this community safe far outweigh everything else.”
Over the years, technology has improved quite a bit in the DA’s Office. “Paperless filing systems are incredible,” Baxter said. He also noted that there are a lot more offenses now than there were 30 years ago, and more serious offenses.
“Narcotics are so much more rampant,” he said. “But, law enforcement resources are much better also.” Baxter said meth, for example, was virtually unheard of in Crawford County 30 years ago.
Another improvement during Baxter’s tenure was the creation of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), a network of law enforcement and prosecutors throughout the nation that helps catch people who prey upon children.
There have been four Crawford County Sheriffs and four Prairie du Chien Police Chiefs during Baxter’s time as DA. The sheriffs include William “Bill” Fillbach, Bob Ostrander, Jerry Moran and Dale McCullick. The police chiefs include Gary Knickerbocker, Mike King, Chad Abram and Kyle Teynor.
The three judges Baxter has worked with are Mike Kirchman, Jim Czajkowski and Lynn Rider.
“I owe Judge Kirchman a debt of gratitude for being so patient with a young prosecutor with no experience in the courtroom when I first started,” said Baxter.
Baxter has had several hundred jury trials over the years. He has also served on the governor appointed State Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board for four years, and on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin State District Attorneys Association for 12 years, including three terms as president.
Baxter said he has served with tremendous law enforcement personnel, judges, circuit court personnel and employees of the District Attorney’s Office, including current employees, Administrative Assistant Deb Kozelka and Victim/Witness Coordinator Lindsay Gillitzer.
“Deb Kozelka and Lindsay Gillitzer, I don’t know what I’d do without those two,” he said.
