Otter Tail County Sheriff Announces Retirement

Barry Fitzgibbons will not seek a third term after 26 years in law enforcement.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Otter Tail County Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons has announced that he will not seek a third term as sheriff. Fitzgibbons has had a 26-year career in law enforcement and said he has been "blessed to spend my entire law enforcement career serving the people of Otter Tail County." He plans to continue serving faithfully through the end of his current term in January 2027.

Why it matters

The retirement of a long-serving county sheriff is a significant event for the local community, as it marks the end of an era and the beginning of a transition to new leadership in the county's law enforcement. Fitzgibbons' departure after over a quarter-century of service will likely have an impact on the county's public safety and criminal justice operations.

The details

Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons has announced that he will not seek a third term as the Otter Tail County Sheriff. Fitzgibbons has served in law enforcement for 26 years, all of which have been in Otter Tail County. In a social media post, Fitzgibbons expressed gratitude for being "blessed to spend my entire law enforcement career serving the people of Otter Tail County" and said he will continue to serve faithfully through the end of his current term in January 2027.

  • Fitzgibbons has had a 26-year career in law enforcement.
  • Fitzgibbons announced he will not seek a third term as Otter Tail County Sheriff.
  • Fitzgibbons' current term as Otter Tail County Sheriff will end in January 2027.

The players

Barry Fitzgibbons

The current Otter Tail County Sheriff who has announced his retirement after 26 years in law enforcement, all of which have been serving the Otter Tail County community.

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What they’re saying

“I have been blessed to spend my entire law enforcement career serving the people of Otter Tail County, and I will continue to serve faithfully through the end of my term in January 2027.”

— Barry Fitzgibbons, Otter Tail County Sheriff (Social media)

The takeaway

After over a quarter-century of dedicated service to the Otter Tail County community, Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons' retirement marks the end of an era and the beginning of a transition to new leadership in the county's law enforcement. His commitment to public safety and the community he served will be missed.