Fond du Lac County Director Of Communications/Emergency Management Director Bobbi Hicken Resigns

Director of Communications & Emergency Management Director for Fond du Lac County Bobbi Hicken has announced she is resigning from that position as of September 9th.

At a public safety meeting Tuesday, September 6, 2022, Hicken recommended to the board that Waupun Fire Chief B.J. DeMaa take her place.

The County Board will need to approve DeMaa as Hicken’s replacement but it appears this will likely take place.

DeMaa, who has already spent time with Hicken training for the new position, has been Waupun’s Fire Chief for 8 years with 20 total years on the department.

While there, DeMaa has participated in many state and federal training programs that will lend to this new position.

DeMaa will not be able to start until October 2nd because of his obligation of giving notice to the City of Waupun of his departure. In the meantime, after Hicken is gone on the 9th, Emergency Management duties automatically go to County Executive Sam Kaufman. Kaufman also has appointed Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Eric Halbach as the interim Director of Communications.

The role of both positions has been a one person job in Fond du Lac County since 2006.

Sheriff Waldschmidt said in a statement, We wish Director Hicken best of luck in her new endeavor, and welcome Chief DeMaa on board pending County Board approval. Whether it’s a citizen calling 911 for help or a firefighter, EMT, or law enforcement calling on the radio, Fond du Lac County can rest assured our dedicated public safety dispatchers remain ready to answer the call. We look forward to assisting with a smooth transition of leadership in the Communications Center, and I know Lieutenant Eric Halbach will help bridge the transition in the interim.