BENTON – With a population just over 1,000, Benton, Wisconsin is home to a police force of one. Brian Hammill, 52, police chief of the southwest Wisconsin village has been serving in his current role since June 2021.
Throughout the years, the village has tried its hand at various modes of policing, including contracting with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, and hiring its own officers. “We’ve had good police officers from the county, but we feel it’s much better having the village police officer be an employee of the village,” said Scott Cruse, interim village board president. “In addition to the more obvious aspects of law enforcement, such as traffic enforcement and investigation of crime, we want our police officer to have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the residents of the village.
Chief Hammill was born and raised in Benton and his family has been in the village of Benton for at least three generations. This, in turn, improves confidence in policing and accessibility.”
Hammill graduated from Benton High School in 1989. After graduation, he joined the United States Army, where he served six years, between active duty and the reserves. He then received a scholarship for Army nurse education in Phoenix, Arizona. After one year, he decided to choose a different path.
For the next 20-plus years, Hammill operated his own Native American dance and music company. He performed hoop dancing all over the world and is a five-time world champion. In addition, he plays the Native American flute, and has five albums to his credit.
At the age of 44, Hammill changed career paths again, this time joining the police academy in Arizona. He graduated just before he turned 45.
Hammill spent six years serving as a police officer in Arizona, until he received a phone call from Scott Pedley, who was the Lafayette County sheriff at the time. Pedley informed Hamill of the opportunity in Benton, and the rest is history. “I’ve always believed in serving the community,” said Hammill. “I get great satisfaction out of solving problems and working for the betterment of the community.”
Hammill was “very excited” when he received the call about the open position in his hometown. “Benton is a very unique community,” he said. “The people are amazing. The village is amazing. It’s always changing, but it’s always the same. It’s just a great community. The employees that work for the village are just top notch. It’s really nice.”
Even though Hammill lived in Arizona, he returned to Benton annually. He owns property in Leadmine and once he secured the Benton position, he razed a cabin that was on the property and built a house.
As for being the lone law enforcement presence in a village, Hammill says it can be quite challenging. “The main goal is to keep it (crime) to where the citizens don’t have to deal with it,” he said. “I try to keep the town as nice as I remember when I grew up.”
“You really have to balance enforcement versus community relations,” added Hammill.
There is no such thing as a typical day, however, much of Hammill’s time is spent on traffic issues, as well as ordinance violations. There are also property and people crimes. However, “I think that, for the most part, we are pretty blessed,” he said.
Even though Hammill is by himself in the Benton Police Department, he has a team of people to back him up. “The Benton Police Department could not function, at all, without the help of Lafayette County, the state agencies, and mutual aid from the other jurisdictions,” he said. “Whenever you ask for help, it’s usually pretty quick when it’s provided. There’s no way a one-man agency could survive without that.”
Hammill will turn 53 this summer and he says he has a few years left on the job. “My goal is to give them a really good 10-12 more years,” he said, noting he wants to retire from the Benton Police Department at that time.
Technically, Hammill works 40 hours per week for the village. He tries to vary those hours, in order to meet the needs of the community. “I make myself available as much as I can,” he said, noting he has his voicemail messages sent directly to his email when he is out of the office. “Here you don’t clock out.”
Hammill’s father is a Benton native and he still lives in the village. His late-mother is from Cassville, Wisconsin. He has been married for 23 years and the couple has two children; a 19-year-old son, who attends UW-Platteville, and a 17-yearold daughter, who is a student at Benton High School.
“I’m super proud to be here,” said Hammill. “It is my hometown and there is a sense of pride in that.”
“I get great satisfaction out of solving problems and working for the betterment of the community.” —Brian Hammill Police chief
