By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
LINCOLN COUNTY – A former Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant is now the county’s Clerk of Courts.
Tom Barker was sworn into his new position on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Barker applied for the post after the previous clerk, Marie Peterson, resigned to take a job with the State of Wisconsin.
Barker graduated from Merrill Senior High School and attended Mount Senario College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Iraq as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Former Lincoln County Sheriff Tom Koth hired Barker in the Corrections Division in 2004. After his hire, Barker attended Basic Jail Officer Training.
Former Sheriff Jeff Jaeger selected Barker to join the patrol division in 2007. He was assigned to second shift after completing field training.
“Tom excelled in his case work, and in 2011, Sheriff Jaeger promoted him to the detective bureau, where he was initially assigned to juvenile cases, sensitive crimes, and Lincoln Hills School,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Barker was also was a member of the Sheriff’s Office’s special response team, an evidence technician, D.A.R.E. instructor, certified homicide investigator, and a nationally-certified fire investigator. He was selected as Deputy of the Year three times.
“When asked what cases he will remember most from his career in law enforcement, Tom paused,” the Sheriff’s Office stated. “He told how he was involved in numerous cases that involved crimes against children and sudden and unexpected deaths. While he doesn’t want to dwell on any of them, he hopes that he was able to provide comfort to the victims and families during their darkest hours as he did his best to provide them with answers or justice.”
Barker’s wife, Meghan, is a school teacher in Tomahawk, while his two daughters are students in Merrill. In his free time, Barker is a coach for the Traveling Softball Team and serves as treasurer of City League Softball. He is also the treasurer of the Silver M Organization.
“We will miss you, Tom, and wish you well,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “We know if you work as hard for the office of Clerk of Court as you did for the crime victims you served, the courts are in good hands.”