BROWN COUNTY (WLUK) — The man who formerly led both the Brown County Sheriff’s department and served as Brown County executive has passed away.
According to an obituary posted by the Hansen Family Funeral & Cremation Services, Tom Hinz passed away at home surrounded by his family on Saturday, May 3. He was 83.
Hinz served as a police officer with the Green Bay Police Department from 1966 to 1996 and retired from GBPD as the assistant chief. The next year, in 1997, he was elected as the Brown County Sheriff, where he served until 2002. He was also an Army veteran who served in Vietnam.
In 2007, Hinz was elected as a Brown County executive and held the role until 2011. He also served as a board member for the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce during that time.
Hinz founded and directed the Northeast Wisconsin Veterans Treatment Court, a 4-phase program that helps veterans who are facing criminal charges overcome addictions or other issues they may face as a result of their service to the country.
“These veterans have committed their lives for this country. Some of the problems that they’ve had have been enhanced by the going into the military, whether it’s drinking or drug abuse. They carry this hidden baggage and our goal is to unload some of that baggage,” said Hinz in an interview with FOX 11 in 2017.
The program began in 2012, and helps veterans connect with mentors, receive rehabilitation, undergo drug testing and treatment in order to get back on the right track. Treatment court lasts 18 months.
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