Hackett steps down from emergency management

Crawford County’s director of the Department of Emergency Management will be stepping down from his position by the end of the month.

Jim Hackett, who has accrued numerous accolades and recognition for his performance as the director, will remain with Crawford County on a part-time basis to assist with grant writing, training and other duties.

“As I transition into this new chapter, I remain committed to supporting the shared vision of community-first policing that the sheriff, county board and I have championed together,” wrote Hackett. “In my absence, I am confident that the department is in exceptional hands with Marc Myhre, our current deputized emergency management specialist.”

As the Department of Emergency Management director, Hackett has helped with numerous natural disasters, including flooding from the Mississippi River in 2023 and 2024 and a train derailment in DeSoto this past year. 

He has also assisted the county to obtain grants for new equipment (including a new mobile command center and a VR training simulator for law enforcement), expansion of training for county employees and collaborative programs with other counties.

Among his many accomplishments, Hackett was honored as the 96th Assembly District’s First Responder of the Year award in 2023.

Hackett confirmed he will be a lieutenant with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections at the Prairie du Chien correctional facility.

As of August 21, the county has not hired a replacement for Hackett’s position.