Former La Crosse County Sheriff Steve Helgeson, a dedicated public servant who spent 35 years in law enforcement, has died at the age of 66. The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office confirmed his passing in an official statement on November 19.
- Age at Passing: 66 years old.
- Distinguished Career: Served 35 years with the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department.
- Leadership Tenure: Led the department as Sheriff for 12 years, from 2006 to 2018.
- Key Legacy: Championed groundbreaking mental health reforms within the county jail system.
Sheriff Helgeson’s most celebrated achievement was his unwavering commitment to improving mental health treatment for inmates, a mission that significantly reduced suicide rates within the La Crosse County Jail. His innovative approach involved increasing medical staff, hiring a full-time psychologist, and making physical changes to the facility to protect vulnerable individuals.
“When I ran for sheriff 12 years ago, we were having an issue with the number of suicide attempts as well as the number of successful suicides in our jail,” Helgeson stated upon his retirement. “I’m proud we moved in the right direction.”
The official announcement of his passing was made via a heartfelt Facebook post from the sheriff’s office, which has been met with an outpouring of support and condolences from the community he served for over three decades. His leadership and compassionate reforms have left an indelible mark on La Crosse County.
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