By Taylor J. Hale
Special to the Gazette

STEVENS POINT — Sergeant Anthony Zblewski of the Stevens Point Police Department is retiring from his post on Jan. 11, after over 20 years of dutiful service. His peers at the station will miss him but are eager to celebrate his accomplishments.

“I started at the police station in August of 1995,” Zblewski said. “I was 32 when I joined the force.”

Zblewski grew up as a dairy farmer in the Portage County area. He shifted his focus from farming to janitorial work at UWSP for a short duration, before being scouted out by the school’s former security director, Don Burling.

“Don heard good things about me and that I was a big strong young man,” Zblewski explained. “He wanted me to be a security guard. So I thought why not.”

The Stevens Point Police Department. (Photo Credit: Taylor Hale)

The young security guard had just married his wife not long before he took the position. She later encouraged him to continue his education in the field.

“My wife convinced me I should get my degree in criminal justice, so I did,” Zblewski said. “After I got my associate’s, I started to work for the police department.”

Since Zblewski started his career, he has carried many prestigious titles. He was a member of the Honor Guard, a detective and a member of the SWAT team during his time in law enforcement. He has also taught classes in criminal justice at Mid-state Tech and schools in the surrounding area.

Zblewski’s successor will be Dana Williams, who is already being trained to handle his former administrative responsibilities. With Williams taking over the reins, Zblewski will finally have unfettered time for relaxation.

“I’m going to walk my dog more and finish up some projects around the house,” he said. “I will probably look for some light work in the area to stay busy, as my wife won’t be able to retire for a few more years.”

The Stevens Point area thanks Sergeant Zblewski for his dedicated aid, wishing him well on his future endeavors. After so many years of ardent service, he deserves some rest and tranquility.