By Kim McDarison
Police Officer Jeff Hottman, a nearly 38-year veteran in law enforcement, and Ron Bishofberger, a 12-year veteran of city staff, both recently retired, were recognized for their years of service during the Fort Atkinson City Council meeting held May 4.
Fort Atkinson Police Chief Adrian Bump and Hottman appeared virtually during the meeting at which time Bump presented Hottman with a letter of recognition from the city’s Police and Fire Commission and a badge identifying him as a member of the city’s police force in retirement.
Hottman officially retired in December of last year.
Reading from the letter, dated Jan. 19, Bump said: “It is the Police and Fire Commission’s distinct honor to recognize you for 37 and a half years of law enforcement service. Your tireless commitment to our community has been of a fair amount of importance to those who consider Fort Atkinson their home and your absence on the force is going to be felt. It is no accident that the city has an outstanding team of officers; they are preceded by exceptional talent. We intend to carry on the precedent of integrity and dedication you put forward across the last three decades, and hope your time in retirement exceeds your expectations.”
As part of the presentation, Hottman was presented with a retirement badge.
Said Bump: “It will be a new tradition for all new officers that retire from this point on, they’ll get a letter from the Police and Fire commission and then, in law enforcement, once a police officer, always a police officer. Jeff Hottman has served the state of Wisconsin for 37 and a half years, and has worked for the Fort Atkinson Police Department since 1989. Moving on to retirement, you are always going to be a police officer in our eyes.”
Bump held the badge out for those attending the virtual meeting to see, saying: “Our retirement badge, that all officers who retire will get, is identical to that badge that our officers wear on their chest who go on duty every day, except for this one signifies retirement and it is engraved on the back with his name and his dates of service.”
After receiving his badge and letter, Hottman said: “It’s been an honor to serve the community of Fort Atkinson and a privilege. The community of Fort Atkinson is really behind the police department — they’ve always been that way — I hope that that continues, and particularly with the council as well, because these are some tough times for law enforcement today and they are going to need your support now more than ever. The community and the councils I’ve worked with over the years, (including) city managers and four police chiefs since I’ve been here, have always been backers of the police department. There is a good team in place here, and they need your support now more than ever because of the environment that we are in today.
“It’s been a pleasure doing it, and thanks for the fun.”
Also recognized during the meeting was Ron Bishofberger, who served for 12 years as a member of city staff within the wastewater utility.
City Manager Rebecca LeMire noted that while Bishofberger was not in attendance at the meeting, he had recently been presented with a plaque from the city recognizing his years of service.
Bishofberger retired at the end of 2020, LeMire said, adding: “We appreciate his service.”
Fort Atkinson Police Chief Adrian Bump shows those attending Tuesday’s Fort Atkinson City Council meeting a retirement badge which he next presented to retiring police officer Jeff Hottman, at right. Hottman, who retired last year, served as a Fort Atkinson police officer since 1989.
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