Joe Kirkpatrick served as PD’s school liaison officer for past 15 years
By Kellen Olshefski
CORRESPONDENT
Beloved police officer and long-time school liaison officer for the Elkhorn Area School District, Joe Kirkpatrick Jr., 56, died at home Aug. 18, according to a press release from Elkhorn Police Chief Joel Christensen.
Kirkpatrick was a 25-plus year veteran of the Elkhorn Police Department, having first joined the department in June 1992 as a Reserve Patrolman, and was later appointed to Patrolman in May 1995.
He accepted a position to serve as the department’s Police School Liaison Officer in February 2005, which is where Christensen said Kirkpatrick found the greatest satisfaction of his career: working with the children of the Elkhorn Area School District.
“PSLO Kirkpatrick exemplified everything that is expected of a school resource officer – mentor, guardian, and counselor,” Christensen said. “(He) forged everlasting relationships with the children and staff of the Elkhorn Area School District and positively impacted the lives of countless children.
Christensen said Kirkpatrick “served with distinction and honor and has left a lasting legacy” at the Elkhorn Police Department.
“He will be greatly missed,” he said.
Christensen ended the release by asking for prayers and support for Kirkpatrick’s family as well as the Elkhorn Police Department family.
In the staff directory for the school district, Kirkpatrick’s introduction includes the following: “My greatest joy of working for the school district is helping students get through difficult times in their lives. The Elkhorn Police Department understands that children are our number 1 priority and will do whatever we can to help ensure a safe environment for all students.”
Throughout his career, Kirkpatrick also served as a law enforcement officer at Big Foot State Park, with the Village of Walworth Police Department and as an EMT with Elkhorn Area Rescue.
A public visitation was held Thursday at Elkhorn Area High School, 482 E. Geneva St. in Elkhorn. A private service for family was held Friday.
‘One of the best’
Students and colleagues alike took to Facebook to express their condolences and share memories of Kirkpatrick following the news of his death.
On a post from Geneva Lake Police Commander Tom Hausner stating, “Rest in God’s arms my Friend,” Tim Mariani, the owner of Affordable Roofing Elkhorn, described Kirkpatrick as “one of the best” people he ever met.
“He was the one person that truly looked at you for who you really were, never look at your past always looked at your future. I will truly miss him,” Mariani wrote.
In post on Kirkpatrick’s Facebook wall, Former Tibbets Elementary School Principal Greg Wells described him as “much more” than simply the school resource officer.
“He was a kind and honest person,” Wells said. “He had integrity. He listened. He was a confidant. One of his greatest strengths is that he took time to create relationships with kids. He was a counselor to many kids. He helped innumerable kids make it through High School.”
In another post on Kirkpatrick’s wall, Bernie Schneider said Kirkpatrick is the reason Schneider “made it through middle school and high school, he was someone you could go to at anytime for pretty much anything.”
Commenting on a post that shared the Elkhorn Police Department’s press release, Robert Haase said he’s worked with few men that he respected “more than Joey … I cannot think of another person (including myself) that always tried to see the good in people rather than their flaws. This is a huge loss to our community and law enforcement.”
In a separate comment, John Karcher added, “Officer Kirkpatrick embodied what it means to be a public servant and the ultimate professional. I had much respect for him and cannot believe the news … Elkhorn has suffered a tremendous blow.”
Matheson Memorial Library is remembering Officer Joe Kirkpatrick with a special chalk obstacle course and is encouraging community members to stop by and share their memories.
“Only a few months ago he was kind enough to demonstrate one of our chalk activities; just another example of his great sense of humor and community. Stop by the library on Court Street, work through the course, and leave a memory of Officer Joe in chalk at the end,” the library posted this week.
Among those Kirkpatrick leaves behind are his wife, five children and three grandchildren. For the full obituary, follow that tab on mywalworthcounty.com.
A more in depth story about the impact Kirkpatrick had will appear in a future issue of the Elkhorn Independent and other Southern Lakes Newspapers’ publications.
