Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath recently received the 2025 “First Responder of the Year” award at the Wisconsin State Capitol from State Rep. Rob Swearingen and State Sen. Mary Felzkowski. Sheriff Fath, who joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1981 and has been sheriff since 2013, plans to retire in December after 44 years of service. Established in 2019, the award recognizes Wisconsin’s firefighters, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and EMS personnel for their exceptional service and selflessness. Each state representative selects one honoree from their district based on community nominations, highlighting those who go above and beyond in their duties. Fath was nominated by citizens for his contributions to public safety and his legacy of service.