Manitowoc County Sheriff Dan Hartwig named the 2019 Corrections and Law Enforcement Officers of the year.
Deputy Christopher Hemauer was selected Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Hemauer is a 10-year veteran of the department and has demonstrated outstanding service to the community & his fellow officers.
The 2004 graduate of Plymouth High School earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Lakeland University with Magna Cum Laude honors. He later attended the Lakeland Police Academy & Fox Valley Tech, receiving the peer-awarded “Richard A. Meyer Memorial Award” for Most Valuable Police Officer. Hemauer is a state certified Drug Recognition Expert and also serves as an instructor for OWI/Standard Field Sobriety Testing.
Deputy Hemauer was named as a K-9 Handler in 2016 and is a member of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers’ Association.
Sheriff Hartwig says Timothy Kluenker was chosen Corrections Officer of the Year. The 2005 graduate of Manitowoc Lutheran High School joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2017 and completed the Jail Academy at Fox Valley Technical College shortly thereafter.
Kluenker has shown quick thinking on several occasions and most recently was part of a team that ‘saved a life.’ He, along with 4-other corrections officers were called to the 3rd floor of the County Jail, where they noticed an inmate was unresponsive and would not wake up. The jail personnel worked in unison to revive the victim, who regained a pulse & began to breathe on his own after Kluenker administered Naloxone. The inmate was taken to a local hospital and the sheriff says all officers involved did an outstanding job.
Kluenker is also a Lieutenant with the Branch Volunteer Fire Department and has completed training as an ice-rescue instructor.
Hartwig says a recognition ceremony for both men will be scheduled at a later date when COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
