March 1, 2017 – West Bend, WI – Former West Bend Police Chief Jim Skidmore has died. His family said he died Saturday, Feb. 25 in Florida.
Skidmore was hired as chief in West Bend, Sept. 1, 1978.
Paul Hetebrueg was captain at the time. “Jim brought the department up to more modern times,” said Hetebrueg. “He improved the training we were getting.”
Former Chief Whitey Uelmen was a patrol office when Skidmore first came to town. “He was an advocate of morality,” said Uelmen. “When they wanted to open massage parlors and tattoo shops he was pretty much against that.”
District 4 Washington County Supervisor Mike Miller was an alderman when Skidmore came on board. “He did a wonderful job bringing West Bend up to a first-class police department,” said Miller. “Just the discipline; being an ex Marine, he just brought that Marine discipline to the department.”
Miller also recalled working side-by-side Chief Skidmore when the tornado came through West Bend in 1981. “That was my district that was hit and Jim and I worked all night, along with a lot of the department, and we worked 20 hours and then we ate a fish fry at the Moose Lodge when we were off,” he said.
Skimore came to West Bend from Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Skidmore retired Dec. 31, 1993. He retired to Florida with his wife. His family said Skidmore suffered a stroke a number of years ago and then his health declined recently before his death.
A memorial service is being planned at Calvary Assembly of God on Decorah Road in West Bend.
Coach Skidmore as I knew him. He was my little league coach when I was 8 years old. I played for him for 3 years. He always had a kind smile and lots of patience with us. I was a tiny kid and he always told me to eat my spinach so I would grow big and strong. I always looked up to him and have many fond memories.
I was very lucky to have Coach Skidmore as my little league coach and first coach in organized sports. He was a great teacher of the game and taught us great discipline and life lessons. He believed in all of us. He will always have a special place in my life. Rest In Peace Coach.
Anyone know what happened to Jim and Lynn his kids and his grandson ” Fritz man”
I’m a grandson, son of his daughter sue. We’re mostly around doing fine.. he’d be very proud to see his great grandchildren
Chief Skidmore was more than a boss – he was my friend. Whenever I came back to WB, I made a point of visiting him. The last time was in 1992. My wife and I visited with him and Marge when we were in Florida in 2013.
Although I left the WB Police Dept in 1980 and eventually left law enforcement in 1989 to begin my career in municipal finance, Chief Skidmore changed my perspective of law enforcement from being just a job to a career. Many of the values that Chief Skidmore taught me during the two year I worked for him followed me throughout my 38 year career in local government.