Veteran Deputy Prepares for Retirement After Nearly 30 Years of Service

By David Ballerstein - Marshfield Now!
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WOOD COUNTY – After nearly three decades of service in law enforcement, Wood County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Sergeant Sara McCormick is preparing to hang up her badge. McCormick, who will officially retire on October 3, has dedicated her career to serving the community in a wide variety of roles, from corrections officer to road deputy, detective, and courthouse security.



A Career Built on Listening and Service
McCormick began her journey in law enforcement in the early 1990s after earning a police science degree from Mid-State Technical College. She started as a part-time deputy in 1993 before working as a corrections officer at the Wood County Jail. Those early years, she explained, helped shape her approach to policing.

“In corrections, you don’t carry the tools of a deputy. You have to learn to talk to people, to listen, and to de-escalate,” McCormick recalled. “That experience refined who I was and prepared me for my career on the road.”

By 2001, she had transitioned to deputy sheriff, where she encountered many of the same individuals she had worked with in corrections. Her emphasis on communication and empathy remained a constant throughout her career, especially when dealing with mental health crises.

9/11 and a New Perspective
Just days after being promoted to deputy sheriff in September 2001, the nation was shaken by the attacks of September 11. McCormick vividly remembers watching the towers fall on television before reporting for duty.

“Now more than ever, I felt I had to protect my community,” she said. “That moment deepened my commitment to this profession.”

The aftermath of 9/11 also brought changes to law enforcement locally. “We became more cohesive, more united as a community and a country,” McCormick reflected.

Leading with Innovation – Project Lifesaver
One of McCormick’s most lasting contributions has been her leadership in Project Lifesaver, a program designed to help quickly locate individuals with cognitive disorders who wander away from home.

The program equips participants with a small transmitter bracelet that emits a radio signal. If a person goes missing, trained responders use receivers to track and locate them.

“It can mean the difference between life and death,” McCormick said. “Families know their loved one will be found quickly and safely.”

Since its local launch in 2007, Project Lifesaver has proven effective in Wood County, with law enforcement and rescue crews working together to bring vulnerable individuals home safely.

A Role Model for Women in Law Enforcement
When McCormick first joined the department, women in law enforcement were rare. Today, she is proud to see more women serving as deputies, investigators, and even canine officers.

“As far as I’m concerned, law enforcement is gender neutral,” she said. “We all put our pants on the same way, and we all get the job done.”

Looking Ahead
While October 3 will mark her official “end of watch,” McCormick won’t be stepping away from service entirely. She plans to continue assisting with Project Lifesaver and offering active shooter presentations, alongside starting a new job outside the department.

“It will be a huge transition,” she admitted. “But I’ve always been a worker, and I still want to give back to the community in different ways.”

Sheriff’s Department colleagues and community members alike are expressing their gratitude. “Sara’s leadership and compassion have made a lasting impact,” one official noted.
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As she prepares for retirement, McCormick remains focused on her lifelong mission: helping people. “Everybody has potential,” she said. “I’m just grateful I had the chance to serve.”

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