A lieutenant with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was celebrated earlier this month as he retired following 27 years of dedicated public service. A ceremony to honor Lt. John Stetzenbach was held on Thursday, Feb. 13, at the sheriff’s office in Kemmerer.

Stetzenbach was hired by the sheriff’s office as a detention office on Jan. 27, 1998. Shortly after, he transferred to patrol, where he worked his way up the ranks to lieutenant.

Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson praised Stetzenbach for his tenure with local law enforcement.

“Lt. Stetzenbach was a great contributor to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for 27 years,” Johnson told the Gazette. “I will miss his leadership and the positive influence he brought to the sheriff’s office.”

The sheriff’s office also thanked and praised their newest retiree on a Facebook post dedicated to Stetzenbach.

“Lt. Stetzenbach has dedicated his life to serving the citizens and visitors of Lincoln County, as well as his fellow brothers and sisters in blue. He began his career as a detention deputy in 1998, moved to patrol in 1999, and rose through the ranks with unwavering commitment and readiness,” the post reads.

“Today, he can finally put those boots away and hang up that vest, concluding his career as a Patrol Lieutenant,” it continues. “Lt. Stetzenbach has led by example, fully embodying the Lincoln County Sheriff’s mission statement. The values of honesty, mutual respect, and service have been more than mere words; they have guided him, shaping him into a figure of admiration and integrity — forever imprinted in his moral compass.”