Former Wheatland Constable Bob Haas (right) receives recognition of his 34 years as constable from Wheatland town Clerk Sheila Siegler and state Rep. Samantha Kerkman.
Bob Haas was Wheatland constable for 34 years. By his assessment, that’s a long time
“I am the longest serving law enforcement elected official in Kenosha County. I think I am. I don’t think there’s been another sheriff or another constable or law enforcement official that’s had that many years. I think most sheriffs have six years, seven, eight at the most.”
Haas did not run for re-election this April. He was succeeded by Robert Santelli.
Haas’ long service to the community was acknowledged with an event hosted by Luisa’s Restaurant Sunday afternoon. Haas family, friends, government officials and other admirers were present. Haas also was presented with plaques from the Wheatland Town Board, the Town of Wheatland Fire Department and an American flag by state Rep. Samantha Kerkman.
I had the chance to chat with the guest of honor for a bit. Here is some of our conversation:
WOTI: When you got started did you think you would be doing this for 34 years? Haas: No.
WOTI: What got you started thinking about running for constable? Haas: “Really I love dealing with people. I do. And I think the constable is a little bit more personal with people than a sheriff could be or a police chief or something.”
WOTI: Besides when you decided to not run this time, was there any other time you thought you might give it up? Haas: “No, I had no regrets over the 34 years. I should probably should have stepped down 4 years ago. Age was getting to me. It’s hard. People keep asking me to stay on and they don’t like change. My one son who is an officer in Baraboo, he kept saying get out, get out. He didn’t want me to get hurt. … It comes to the point that you can’t take on the younger guys. When you get to 62 years old, you don’t see too many 60 year old cops. And I think the town’s going to realize that as the town grows, I don’t know if they should go to a police department or something like that. Myself, I am glad they didn’t get rid of it (the office of constable) …”
WOTI: What has changed over your 34 years as constable? Haas: “I never thought I’d have an automatic weapon in the car. We started out with .38s, .357s then went to 9s and then 40s, 45s and then the automatic weapons. … It gets your attention. It’s the way that society is. The drug dealers, they have the fire power, so you have to have it. Times have changed big time from the way we used to handle stuff. And I don”t know if it’s for the good or the bad. Now it’s very professional. It’s a thing called verbal judo. Before someone was doing something you had enough support with the law enforcement. You handle things altogether different than you did years ago. Years ago, if you acted up, you got a thumping. You took it. Now with cellphones and cameras you can’t do that. People pickup on it, they’re sue happy. We’re a sue happy society. It is and it’s a shame. It is, it really is. Years ago, you told someone “hey, be quiet,” if they didn’t be quiet, they got arrested. Now you got to put up with it. It’s sad. It is, it really is. …
WOTI: What are some of the more rewarding things you’ve done on the job? Haas: I saved a few people with the defibrillator. That was very rewarding. It’s rewarding to see kids over the 34 years that they always act like I could have locked them up in juvenile detention and they turned out to be reasonable adults. That’s very rewarding. In today’s society if you incarcerate someone, there’s no rebound today. People might think there is, the psychologist that works in the prison might think that. It’s a joke. Even juvenile detention, you lock the kid up, he’s in there with someone who is twice as bad. And they learn how to do, how to get away with things. If you can keep anybody from being locked up and they turn out to be reasonable, that’s very rewarding for me. … It’s rewarding to see a kid that turned out to be very, very reasonable. … If an adult does something wrong, I think they should be punished to the max. I really do. Prime example is that shooting I was involved in. What it came right down to, they asked me did he point that weapon at you? I said no he didn’t point it at me. They said we can’t get him for pointing a firearm at an officer. He has to point it at me, in order to be convicted. I didn’t give him the opportunity. If he would have pointed it at me, he probably would have killed me, OK. I didn’t give him the opportunity. (Note: Haas fired at the suspect mentioned when he saw the weapon. — DH) I was shocked when that happened, when the DA said we can’t get him for that. It was a joke. The man hours, the money spent to get this guy and he gets a slap on the wrist, it’s sad.
WOTI: Do you have any advice for your successor? Haas: “No. He’s a seasoned officer. He should be able to step right in. When I walk away, I walk away. I’m not going to give him any advice or anything like that. That’s just how I am. If he wants to stop over and ask me about somebody, more power to him. I know so many people out here. I’m a wall of knowledge. I just am. I know people. (There was a deputy) who couldn’t get a hold of this one lady. I said she gets her hair done every Thursday. It was great. Everyone’s running around. … she’s getting her hair done. That’s why she’s not home. You know the kids, you know the parents, it’s nice knowing a lot of people.
Former Wheatland Constable Bob Haas receives recognition of his years of service from Town of Wheatland Fire Chief Lou Danko at an event held in Haas’ honor at Luisa’s Restaurant on Sunday.
A Racine County Sheriff’s Department canine handler gets a bottle of water from Constable Bob Haas. This file photo was taken on June 15, 2010 after a person Haas pulled over, showed a weapon fled and led police on a lengthy manhunt.
Constable Bob Haas and a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department detective discuss the scene while other detectives gather evidence behind a line of trees. This westofthei.com file photo was taken on June 15, 2010 after a person Haas pulled over, showed a weapon fled and led police on a lengthy manhunt.
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