Billeb takes reigns as newcounty sheriff
During his 30-year law enforcement career, Chad Billeb has seen the area grow and change, serving in various roles within nearby local and county departments. On Tuesday he was sworn in as the new Marathon County sheriff.
Billeb, who grew up in Brookfi eld, near Milwaukee, moved to Medford when he was a junior in high school. At that point, he didn’t know what path he would be taking after finishing school. It wasn’t until he got a chance to interact with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office that he realized his calling.
“I had no interest in law enforcement, but on that first ride-along we got into a high speed chase and I think we arrested a drunk driver,” Billeb recalled. “I came home and I remember telling my parents, ‘I know what I want to do.’” At age 18, Billeb joined the police academy and soon after began his decades- long career. Over the years, he worked for the Rib Lake Police Department, the Price County Sheriff’s Office and the Medford Police Department before landing his first full-time job with the Colby-Abbotsford Police Department. After four and a half years went by, Billeb made the decision to pursue a county position.
“You kind of find your niche, where you think you would best fit,” Billeb said. “For me, it was county law enforcement. It’s different. The types of calls are different. Our interactions are different.”
Billeb spent several years as a patrol deputy for the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department before transferring to the special investigations unit, where he worked in the narcotics division for about three years. Following that, he was promoted to lieutenant and began supervising court security. It was then he realized he missed patrol duty.
“I really missed the interactions out on the street,” Billeb said. “So I asked to be transferred back to the road and everyone thought I was nuts because I left a Monday through Friday job to go back to working swing shifts and a lot of uncertainty.”
Although his transfer was approved, the sheriff at that time asked Billeb to also keep his court security duties, because he had made good relationships with the judges. While working both jobs, an opening for a division commander position cropped up, which Billeb was offered. During that time, he oversaw the administrative division, taking charge of things like budgets, policy and public records. It was only a couple years later when he was approached by his predecessor, Scott Parks, who asked him to serve as chief deputy.
For almost 10 years, Billeb worked as the second in command to Parks, who retired officially on Sunday. It was Parks who asked Billeb if he wanted to seek the head leadership role when he decided not to run for office again.
“I went home and had a conversa-tion with my wife and my two girls and decided that running for sheriff was something we could do together as a family,” Billeb, who ran unopposed in November, said.
The new sheriff said he’s focused on what he sees as some of the biggest issues facing the county — mental health and substance abuse.
According to Billeb, changes at North Central Health Care, a mental health clinic in Wausau, makes it “a perfect time for us to come together and start approaching [these issues] again with maybe a new view, a new approach and move that forward.” He also said the offi ce is trying to start creative programs within the county jail to address those issues.
“So much of what happens in this county is a product of mental health and substance abuse,” Billeb said.
Another focus for Billeb will be “staying ahead of the technology.” He recalled buying a bag phone with an antenna that had to be put on the top of his squad car during his earlier years on the job. Nowadays, new deputies are issued a cell phone and computer immediately to be able to communicate in various ways. Billeb used the department’s forensic lab as another example of how technology has drastically changed.
“We have one of the premier labs in the state, if not in this region of the country, where we’re leaned on regularly to help with investigations,” Billeb said.
Looking ahead, Billeb said he’s aware he has “big shoes to fill.” He commended Parks, who he described as “one of the best sheriffs this county has ever seen,” along with various other officers he’s worked with over the years, for preparing him for this role.
“The relationships and partnerships we have are really what makes us, as an organization, successful,” Billeb said. “I feel very fortunate to have that.”
Elderon robbery, shooting
Billeb’s tenure got off to a busy start when he assumed the sheriff duties this week. Before his swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, he briefed the media about an armed robbery home invasion that occurred in Elderon around 2:30 a.m. that morning. Deputies arrived on scene after a report of a 79-year-old man being assaulted and stabbed as he exited his vehicle in his garage.
According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the homeowner was in possession of a firearm and fired one round that struck the suspect in the chest prior to the firearm being wrestled away from him.
The suspect died while fleeing the scene; Billeb told reporters the deceased suspect was found in a vehicle nearby and both weapons were recovered. The homeowner sustained nonlife threatening injuries and was recovering at a local hospital on Tuesday.
According to the release, investigators believe the suspect followed the man home from a local establishment and there is no further threat to the community. They had not yet released the suspect’s name, pending family notifi cation.
BILLEB’S SPEECH-Chad Billeb, who began his tenure as the new Marathon County sheriff this week, speaks to the crowd gathered for his swearing-in ceremony.STAFF PHOTO/HANNAH ALDEN
