Colby native chosen as one of the First Responders of the Year

By Neal Hogden

Colby native and current deputy with the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office Aaron Galindo was honored on October 17th at the capitol building in Madison as one of the 99 people awarded the first responder of the year award.

Galindo was nominated by representative Patrick Snyder of the 85th District after Galindo helped save the lives of two people in December 2022 and January 2023.

According to a release from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Galindo responded to a call where an individual was armed with a rifle in December of 2022. After ensuring the scene was secure, Galindo provided immediate medical attention to one of two females in distress. The victim became non-responsive and eventually stopped breathing. Deputy Galindo began CPR as multiple doses of Narcan were administered. The female started breathing on her own and was transported to a medical facility.

In January 2023, Galindo was at the center of another dangerous situation as he responded to a disturbance. Upon arrival, they found a victim with a stab wound. Galindo acted swiftly, administering first aid which included applying a bandage and providing pressure which significantly reduced the bleeding. Medical professionals later attested that Galindo’s actions likely saved the victim’s life.

Galindo said situations like these can be unpredictable, but learning as his life and career has gone on has been essential to his ability to handle stressful situations.

“I think the paths I chose and my life experiences ultimately prepared me for situations that law enforcement officers deal with on a daily basis,” Galindo said. “ I feel that I have always been a person who has been quick on my feet when it comes to taking action when it is needed.”

The incidents are what gave Galindo a nomination for the award by Rep. Snyder. Galindo, along with the other 99 nominees were honored in a special session of the Wisconsin Assembly. The event was the third-annual First Responder of the Year Awards ceremony.

Galindo said the award and his successful career thus far can be attributed to his support system he has in his family.

“ I think there are far too many people to thank for supporting me through life, but my family has and continues to be a huge

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FIRST RESPONDER OF THE YEAR - Aaron Galindo, left, receives his First Responder of the Year award from Rep. Patrick Snyder of the 85th district at a recognition ceremony in Madison on Oct. 16.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Galindo

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support structure,” Galindo said. “I have had a plethora of role models step into my life at many different points and led me down the path that I am at. Whether that was a professor in college convincing me not to give up on a field of study, an instructor in the police academy who took me under their wing to help develop me and instill what a great law enforcement officer should be, or my parents and wife who take the brunt of the effects of working in high stress careers like the military and law enforcement.”

Galindo graduated high school from Colby in 2012 and began college at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. After his first semester, Galindo left for basic training and AIT for the Army National Guard in Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Upon completing basic training, Galindo returned to Platteville to finish his degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Spanish.

After graduation, Galindo got his first law enforcement job as a member of the City of Menomonie Police Department. This department paid his way through the police academy in Sparta at Western Technical College. Shortly after graduating from the academy, Galindo learned that he needed to think outside the box in order to connect with those he serves.

“I think my goal since getting into law enforcement has been to always do my best to be someone the community would be proud to have working for them,” Galindo said. “I am a huge believer in community policing and having positive interactions with people. I try to do as much in the community to build positive relationships as possible, if that’s stopping at schools to eat lunch with the kids, or going out to recess; presenting for community events, or stopping out with people who are just hanging out in the community. Building those positive interactions with community members can have a huge impact on our ability to do our job, or get assistance when we may need it most.”

Galindo worked in Menomonie for approximately 18 months before moving to La Crosse with his now wife, Erin. He worked for various departments in and around La Crosse before getting a job with the Wisconsin Army National Guard and their Counter Drug Program in which he was assigned at the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office. He only worked there for a few short months before being deployed to Jordan on the border of Israel, Iraq and Syria. Prior to leaving for his deployment, Galindo was hired by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy, holding the position for him when he came back from deployment.

Galindo said his experience as a part of the military also prepared him for the daily stresses being a police officer might bring.

“Those skills have definitely been sharpened through the military, and positions of leadership I have been placed in for it, and the type of training we receive,” Galindo said. “Going into deployment an emphasis is placed on self and buddy first aid, whether that is addressing bullet wounds, stab wounds, explosive injuries or anything in that nature. That training coupled with having been an emergency medical responder for the Village of Coon Valley near La Crosse during my time down there really helped me prepare to handle most situations.”

Despite being out and about in the community day after day, Galindo said the lines of being a police officer and regular human being can sometimes be confusing for those who don’t know him.

“To some, we are just robots out there to stop people and issue them tickets, or we are the first person they see after a tragic event,” Galindo said. “To others we are family, friends, neighbors and people who community members enjoy having interactions with.”

Galindo’s humble approach to the position he holds can be seen in his day-to-day interactions with the Rib Mountain community to which he is assigned. The constant care and service Galindo gives each emergency is what makes he and many other Marathon County Sheriff’s Officers stewards of the people and part of an awardwinning force. The recognition is nice, but Galindo said that’s not what motivates him to be the best law enforcement officer he can be every day.

“Working for the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office has been a very humbling experience,” Galindo said. “I have had the opportunity to be involved in many teams and trainings, as well as be present for many community events. As for the awards, they are nice, but ultimately knowing I had a positive impact on individuals lives, not just for them but their families as well is really what keeps me going in this career. ”

Galindo said the primary goal of any law enforcement officer is to keep the public safe and he hopes to keep making connections and being a friendly face in order to make sure his community knows they are in safe hands.

“Our goal in law enforcement is the safety of the community. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is, the preservation of life, and safety of all is our end goal,” Galindo said. “Ultimately, I think being a good steward for the community requires us to be present in all aspects.”