Proven Experience. Proven Leadership.
Honorable Commitment to the Community
Eric Zellner currently serves Kewaunee County as the Lieutenant of Operations with the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department and has proudly and honorably served the citizens of Kewaunee County for the past 28 years.
Eric started in 1998 as a part-time jailor and dispatcher, achieving full-time status in 1999.
In 2003, he transferred to the patrol division and joined the SWAT team, ultimately attaining the rank of SWAT Team Leader.
As a patrol deputy, he took on additional responsibilities, including Field Training Officer and Evidence Technician, and later became the Evidence Room Manager.
In 2016, Eric was promoted to Drug Investigator where he worked alongside Investigators from the Door County Sheriff’s Department as part of the Door/Kewaunee Drug Task Force.
Eric has completed additional specialized training, including the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations Death Investigation school. This training focused on sensitive and complex cases such as child abductions and deaths, arson deaths, suspicious deaths, and homicides. During this time, he built strong professional relationships with law enforcement officers from around the state.
In 2023, Eric was promoted to the rank of Operations Lieutenant where he supervises Patrol, Investigations, and School Resource Officers.
Eric attended the Wisconsin Command College and earned the nationally recognized Certified Public Manager designation and received the prestigious Trilogy Award after completing all three core leadership courses through the FBI-LEEDA (Law Enforcement Executive Development Association).
Out of respect for the office and the working relationship, Eric sought and received the current Sheriff, Matt Joski's, approval before announcing his candidacy for Sheriff.
Community Focused
Eric is a member of Muskrat City Sportsman’s Club, where he founded the “Learn to Fish” program. With the help of fellow members, they provide children with an opportunity to learn how to fish by supplying rods, reels, lures, and tackle boxes. Eric is also a certified Hunter Safety Instructor and has taught classes at both Muskrat City Sportsman’s Club and The Black Ash Gun Club.
Eric developed and taught a community outreach program called “Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar.” This program allows Girl Scouts to earn their Investigator Badge by learning about fingerprinting and solving a mock crime. Eric is committed to expanding community outreach efforts and am currently working on a program to help Boy Scouts earn their Evidence Badge.
Family Values
Eric and his wife Melissa have two daughters, one grandson, and one late granddaughter. They are a law enforcement family dedicated to serving Kewaunee County. Melissa served Kewaunee County for 20 years as a supervisor and lead Field Training Officer for new jailors and dispatchers. Training the new officers was her greatest passion.
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