Calling it a difficult decision, Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco announces retirement

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY -- Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco, a state prosecutor for 27 years, the last 14 of which as that county’s district attorney, has announced he will not seek re-election this November and will retire.

“Of all the decisions I have made in my career, the decision to retire has been the most difficult. It has been my privilege and pleasure to work with my fellow prosecutors here and throughout the state, along with county, state and federal law enforcement agencies, county staff and Sheboygan County citizens to make our communities safe places to live, work and raise families, and to bring to justice those who would make it otherwise,” DeCecco said.

DeCecco, an outspoken advocate of creating additional prosecutor positions to address a state-wide critical prosecutor shortage, said his only regret was his inability to do so.

“Since my election as Sheboygan County District Attorney in 2002, the prosecutor shortage has been constantly on my mind and the focus of my efforts to obtain additional prosecutors not only for Sheboygan County but throughout the State. I am very sorry to have failed to do so," DeCecco said.

A native of Rhode Island who moved to Wisconsin in 1985, DeCecco said he will remain in Wisconsin hoping to expand his current teaching duties.