The Daily News

After a little over 30 years of work behind him, Wilkin County's longest-running deputy is retiring. Jeff Kubitz’s last day of work was on Thursday.

Kubitz, 51, didn't try for a sheriff's position because he didn't want to be locked inside an office.

"It's just never been one of my goals - I like to be outside," he said.

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Kubitz, who was raised near Pelican Rapids, Minn., covered two communities near Alexandria as a police officer before taking the job in Breckenridge. A college instructor advised him to "move on to bigger and better things," and so he did.

"It's a lot different having nine communities and 752 square miles to cover as opposed to a town of 1,500 people," he said.

But he believes the choice was a good one, particularly for the county's sense of security and quality of people. He and his wife, Lori, decided to settle in the community and raise their three children.

"People a lot of times don't lock their vehicles or lock their doors, and there's a reason for that," said Kubitz, who lives in Wolverton. "People in the Midwest - I think we're quite a bit different and better than people in most other places."

Early in his career, he handled a murder case 28 years ago that's the first to surface in his mind - two friends living in Tenney, Minn., got into an argument that ended with one beating the other to death with a cast iron skillet.

He credits his schooling and classes as the saving grace in difficult situations such as these.

"You don't even react as though you're dealing with a human body," he said. "You find your own way to deal with things. You can't think about those things - your job is to take care of the situation at hand."

Car wrecks and cases involving children are always tough, but notifying families of a death has proved to be the hardest part of the job, he said, adding that they do it several times a year.

"I've had lamps thrown at me, you name it, trying to fill someone in on the circumstances of certain things," he said.

But he's also had his share of bright moments, including getting re-connected with former juveniles in the most surprising ways. Three or four of them have called Kubitz years after they first met, thanking him for his support.

"They were married and had their first child, and they called me to visit their house," he said. "When I got there, he said, 'I have a wife and a child and a decent life because you were there for me.' That's rewarding."

Comments

Doug Joyce Pawlitschek wrote on Nov 22, 2009 3:37 PM:

" Jeff, congratulations from some of your old neighbors at 722 S. 6th St., Breckenridge, MN. Hope you and Lori and your 3 children are doing well. We moved to the St. Louis area just before the flood of 1997. Best of luck. "




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Tim Parker wrote on Nov 21, 2009 6:31 PM:

" 30 years of service! Let me count back the years since my Wahp. HS days......Nope...................he never stopped me! LOL
Enjoy retirement!!! "




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Sharon and Richard wrote on Nov 21, 2009 9:39 AM:

" Jeff,
Congratulation on your retirement. You had a great career and I know you will have some worthy cause to keep you busy. Enjoy! Richard and Sharon from Bozeman Mt. "




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