Submitted by former Portage County Sheriff Stan Potocki
Edited by Joe Bachman

PORTAGE COUNTY — Three generations of law enforcement have served Portage County, as the Potocki family carries a long-running tradition of community service. In honor of National Law Enforcement Week, we highlight four outstanding individuals.

Lieutenant Raymond Potocki was the first to enter law enforcement. He served in the United States Marine Corp from January 1956-59. On Jan. 1, 1960, he was hired by the Stevens Point Police Department as an officeer, and later worked as a Portage County Game Warden in 1966. He became the county’s first Juvenile Officer in 1968, and in 1969 was promoted to Sergeant in the Detective Bureau. In 1971, he was promoted to Lieutenant of Detectives. From 1985-88 he was in charge of the Drug and OWI programs and retired in July of 1988.

Raymond Potocki worked as a Portage County Bailiff from 1989 until retiring in 2003. He is currently in charge of the Stevens Point Department Auxiliary as a Capatin. He has been a member of the Wisconsin Sheriffs & Deputy Sheriffs Association (WSDSA) for over 50 years.

Second in the family is Stan Potocki, brother of Raymond, who also served in the United States Marine Corps from 1959-63. Afterwards, he was hired as a Wisconsin DNR Special Game Warden, and worked for the DNR until July 1, 1964, when he was hired on as a police officer for the Stevens Point Police Department. He also worked as a part-time Deputy Sheriff for Portage County. Stan was hired on as a full-time Deputy Sheriff in 1966, and in 1969 was promoted to Sergeant, and became a Shift Commander.

After higher education, he was named in charge of the Central Wisconsin Law Enforcement Training Institute in 1975. He was also promoted to Captain/Undersheriff/Chief Deputy Coroner. On Jan. 1, 1992, he was promoted to Chief Deputy/Undersheriff, and remained as such until his retirement in 1994. In November of 1996 he was elected Sheriff, and served three terms.

Stan was elected to the Portage County Board of Supervisors in 2004, and still serves as District 11 Supervisor. He has also been a member of the WSDSA for over 50 years.

Lieutenant Michael Potocki, son of Stan Potocki, was next in line to become involved in law enforcement, as he attended Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids, and graduated with an Associates Degree in Police Science in 1996. During this time, he worked part-time with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. In 1997, he was hired as a police officer for the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department, and in 1998 became a member of the Special Response Team, and went from entry level to Marksman and Assistant Team Leader from 2006-2012.

He is now current Team Leader for that position. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2006, and acquired special duties as Supervisor of the Special Response Team and K-9 Program. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2017, and will become a Shift Commander in addition.

Cody Potocki, Michael’s son, is the newest member to local area law enforcement, and graduated from Lincoln High School in 2015, and received high honors in the three years he was there. He graduated from the Wisconsin Rapids Student Police Academy in his junior year. He has an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement from Mid-State Technical College, and graduated with high honors. He took over one of three top leadership roles in the Student Senate as a Campus Representative from January 2017 to May 2017.

Cody was a Wisconsin Rapids Auxiliary Officer from August 2015 to 2017, and soon became an Auxiliary Sergeant. He worked as a part-time Wood County Reserve Deputy, as well as full-time for the Red Granite Police Department, until recently becoming a Deputy Sheriff for the Portage County Sheriff’s Department.