Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett. Photo supplied.

Gov. Tony Evers appointed Kalvin D. Barrett as Dane County Sheriff on Friday, filling a vacancy created by Sheriff David J. Mahoney’s resignation, effective May 8. Barrett will complete the remainder of the term which ends January 2, 2023.

“With 12 years of service as a law enforcement officer, Kalvin Barrett is a dedicated public servant,” said Gov. Evers in a statement. “I am confident he will be an effective, empathetic leader in Dane County and will work to ensure the safety of and collaboration with every community he serves.”

Barrett served as Dane County Deputy Sheriff from 2009 to 2011, and as an officer with the Sun Prairie Police Department from 2011 to 2016 and is currently a law enforcement officer at Wisconsin State Fair Park, according to a press release from the governor’s office, and he teaches law enforcement and criminal justice at Madison College where he is the faculty director of the criminal justice studies program. He is also a workplace violence and active threat response consultant.

“I congratulate Governor Evers and the selection committee on their work to find the best appointee, who has the community ties and commitment to fair and impartial law enforcement. Someone with a passion for community engagement on issues, who will guide the Sheriff’s Office into the future with equitable and equal justice for all citizens,” said Sheriff Mahoney. “Kalvin Barrett will serve our community well, guided by the core values of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.”

Barrett earned his bachelor’s degree in 2004 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his master’s degree in criminal justice from American Public University in 2020.