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Police officer, street superintendent close out 2021 with retirements

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Mayor Dave Hemmer presented a resolution to both Gerald Tippery (above) and Dan Titlbach honoring their service to the city of Prairie du Chien. (Submitted photos)

By Correne Martin

 

Two men who have worked for the city of Prairie du Chien for a combined 72 years signed off Dec. 31. Retiring as an officer with the police department, Gerald Tippery had 41 years in before leaving duty. Dan Titlbach hung up his street department superintendent boots after 31 years. 

Police officer

Jerry Tippery stepped out of the squad car, with his professional belongings in hand, and saluted the vehicle one last time at the end of his overnight shift at 5:30 a.m. Friday. 

He began his career on Aug. 20, 1980, under Chief Gary Knickerbocker, in the days where reports were handwritten. He worked through typewriters into the current computer age of electronic data collection and ticketing. He’s had access to weapons from a revolver to a semi-automatic firearm on duty.

Tippery said he stayed on the police force for four decades mostly because he enjoyed helping people.

“I was always willing to help. I wanted to keep people safe and make sure they got home OK,” he said. 

Over the years, Tippery developed working relationships with officers across other area jurisdictions, jailers and dispatchers, courthouse employees, people with the Burlington Northern Railroad, hospital workers and emergency volunteers as well. He said he will miss interacting with those “friends” and keeping up with their lives most of all. 

Among the biggest changes Tippery witnessed during his tenure, he said, were the drug rise and the mental health crisis.

“When I started, a lot of it was marijuana, a little bit of coke and LSD and some heroin,” he recalled. “Now it’s meth in all its different forms, heroin again, and prescription drugs.”

He explained the difficulties law enforcement face with the limited number of nearby facilities that will admit people dealing with mental health issues. 

“We go three-quarters of the way across the state (to find a place) now,” he said. “That makes it frustrating, when you want to help. There is a very large gap.”

Because he worked the night shift for most of his career, Tippery said he learned the best ways to talk to people and deescalate situations, particularly when alcohol was involved. He said he retires proud of his calming presence and ability to be a voice of reason.

In his retirement, Tippery plans to delve into a lot of home projects, which he enjoys.

The fourth police chief he’s worked under, Kyle Teynor, had this to say about Tippery: Gerald took great pride in being a cop for everyone. His compassion and kindness for each person he came in contact with exceeded most everyone’s expectations for a police officer.” 

Teynor said the department is currently recruiting for Tippery’s replacement, and the application deadline is Jan. 14. There are a dozen applicants thus far and candidate offers are expected within the next couple months.

Street superintendent

Titlbach started working as a laborer for the city of Prairie du Chien in September of 1990. He moved through the ranks as equipment operator and lead man before becoming street superintendent about four years ago, upon the retirement of his predecessor, Terry Meyer.

“My most gratifying accomplishment was figuring out engineering of the roundabout Christmas trees,” Titlbach said. “It just made everybody happy. I heard more positive comments about that than anything else.”

Titlbach was involved in numerous projects over the years, including city hall and Hoffman Hall reconstruction, stormwater and flood response, street reconstruction, to name a few. 

As he exits, one thing Titlbach wants the community to realize is the commitment that city street workers give in order for there to be clean streets in the winter time as well as during or after storms.

“It’s a team effort. While the public is sleeping, we’re working so they can back out of their driveways and drive down clean streets in the morning,” he stated. “I’ve sat down to open Christmas presents and been called out. I’ve delayed vacations because of snow. I want others to respect what these guys give up for the citizens of Prairie du Chien.”

Reflecting on his three decades of service, Titlbach wished to share his gratefulness to former city administrator Gary Koch and the city council from 1990 for hiring him.

“I (recently) had a heart to heart with Gary, and he said I was an asset to the community. It means a lot to know I did the job I was hired to do,” he quipped.

So far, in retirement, Titlbach has been happy to go ice fishing and hunting with his sons, and simply spend time with his family. He looks forward to having the freedom to go visit his family more often too. 

Stepping into Titlbach’s shoes to replace him will be Nick Gilberts.

“I worked with him for 19 years. He’s level headed. I’m pleased to see the direction the department is headed,” he said. 

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