BURNETT COUNTY (DrydenWire) - Burnett County Sheriff Tracy Finch will retire at the end of her term, closing out a career that will span more than 37 years with the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office, including the last eight years as sheriff.
Finch said the decision not to seek re-election came after reflecting on what her team set out to accomplish when she was first elected.
“My team and I have accomplished the goals we set when I was elected,” Finch said. “It is time for someone with some fresh ideas to come in and improve things even more.”
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She confirmed she will be retiring from law enforcement, though she plans to remain active through part-time work and volunteer opportunities.
Looking back, Finch said one of the achievements she is most proud of is rebuilding and strengthening relationships, both within the county and across the region.
“I am most proud of building or rebuilding relationships with the community, County Administration, the County Board, and other law enforcement agencies,” Finch said. “Those relationships allowed us to accomplish many things.”
Among those accomplishments was the construction of the county’s new Public Safety Facility, a project Finch described as transformative for both daily operations and morale. During her tenure, the Sheriff’s Office also formed an Emergency Response Team, added a second K9 deputy, implemented body-worn cameras, and hired and promoted personnel she described as exceptional.
Finch also spoke openly about one of the most difficult periods of her tenure — undergoing cancer treatments at the beginning of her first term as sheriff.
“One of my biggest challenges was going through cancer treatments during the beginning of my first term,” Finch said. “I am so grateful to my coworkers for helping me through that time in my life.”
Budget constraints were another ongoing challenge, Finch said, noting that the Sheriff’s Office and county leadership work hard to provide high-quality public safety services despite limited financial resources. She credited county administration and the County Board for delivering strong services while carefully managing taxpayer dollars.
“County administration and the board provide a lot of excellent service with very limited funds,” Finch said.
Under her leadership, Finch said the Sheriff’s Office improved relationships with local police departments and surrounding agencies, expanded specialized training opportunities, and benefited from improved working conditions following the move into the new facility.
“We are a small department with very well-trained people,” Finch said. “Having more positive public interactions has vastly improved our community support. We truly appreciate the funding from the public, but we appreciate their faith and trust even more.”
Looking ahead, Finch said she hopes several programs and initiatives will continue after she leaves office, including Shop with a Cop, Cops and Bobbers, the department’s drone program, the Emergency Response Team, maintaining a second K9 position, public presentations, and the Allen Albee Scholarship Program.
To help ensure a smooth transition, Finch said she plans to assist the next sheriff in building relationships and learning the day-to-day operations of the office, including personnel matters and budgeting.
“I will assist them however I can,” Finch said.
Finch also confirmed she will be endorsing Detective Mikal Anton in the upcoming Burnett County sheriff’s election.
When asked what qualities she believes are most important in the next sheriff, Finch emphasized transparency, open communication, integrity, a strong work ethic, and availability to both staff and the public.
Reflecting on her legacy, Finch said she hopes she will be remembered for leaving a positive impact on both the community and the people she worked alongside.
“I have no major regrets,” Finch said. “I did my best to make informed decisions with the input of professionals and the public.”
As she prepares to step away from the role, Finch said she is most looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, volunteering, and no longer being on call around the clock.
What she will miss most, she said, are the people and the daily interactions that came with the job.
“I will miss the men and women that I have had the pleasure to work with and being a part of an excellent team,” Finch said. “I will also miss all of the positive public interactions.”
Finch closed by thanking the Burnett County community for its continued support throughout her career.
“I want to thank the Burnett County community for their encouragement and support,” Finch said. “I am very honored to have served them for 37 years.”
Last Update: Jan 16, 2026 12:10 pm CST
