Barron County Officers Mourn Loss of Off Duty Officer

Barron County Officers mourn the loss of one of their own. Below is the statement released by the Police Department:

The Barron Police Department is saddened to announce the unexpected off duty death of Officer Ben Smith. Officer Smith served with the Barron Police Department since January of 2024, and had prior experience in 2023 with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, 2019-2020 with the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office, and several firearm distributors in sales and as an instructor.

Due to the sudden and unexpected death of Officer Smith, the Barron Police Department has requested assistance from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department and possibly other municipal surrounding agencies. You will notice police vehicles from partnering law enforcement agencies in the community to help ensure law enforcement services continue without disruption.

As the staff at the Barron Police Department processes the grief of losing Officer Smith, we ask for the patience and understanding from the community, and to respect the privacy of Officer Smith’s family. Due to the ongoing investigation, we will not be releasing any more information at this time.