WHITEHALL, Wis. — The sheriff of Trempealeau County for seven years, Brett Semingson, is retiring. Semingson announced his last day will be in December. He is 58 years old. Semingson, who lives in Eleva in the far north of the county, has been in law enforcement 29 years. He started in rhe sheriff’s office as a sergeant and was elected sheriff in 2018. The department’s roster, when full, has 28 sworn officers and a jail staff of 20. Semingson prides himself on a digital transformation “from pen and paper reporting to the most updated technology.” He has implemented school programs on online safety, mental health, and substance abuse prevention. Semingson has been plagued by staff shortages in recent years. The problem has been compounded by chronic vacancies in the Arcadia municipal police department that have siphoned county resources. The county has 29,000 people, Arcadia 2,900. Semingson’s record has been mixed on keeping the public informed. He is a minimalist with details on crime and accidents and has instructed deputies not to answer even routine news quries without his permission. His close-to-the-vest practices include blocks on public access on who’s in the county jail.
Semingson. A 1990 graduate of Chippewa Valley Tech in Eau Claire and a 1985 graduate of Eleva-Strum Strum Central High School.