Lucas: Sheriff's badge a product of Barrett's commitment to service
April 05, 2021 | Football, Mike Lucas
Inspired by his father, former UW lineman earns role as Dane County’s first Black sheriff
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Stockpiling learning experiences from his campus socialization and playing days on the Wisconsin football team — lessons taught in the classrooms and trenches — Kalvin Barrett drew from that resource while following in the footsteps of his father as a public servant and peace officer.
After Gov. Tony Evers appointed the 39-year-old Barrett as the Dane County sheriff — replacing David Mahoney, who will leave the position on May 8 — many of his former Badger teammates reached out to Barrett. Some locally. Some from far. Some who have been in frequent contact. Some not.
"I'm excited for every opportunity to make them proud," said Barrett, a member of the 2000 recruiting class that head coach Barry Alvarez assembled on the heels of back-to-back Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl wins. "We're still a tight-knit family and the bond that we have will never be broken."
Among those with whom he stays in contact the most is Jonathan Clinkscale, a Madison firefighter. The offensive linemen had a natural bond as recruits. Both were from California area codes: Clinkscale from the 626 (Altadena, a Los Angeles suburb) and Barrett from the 619 (Spring Valley, a San Diego suburb).
As redshirt freshmen, Barrett and Clinkscale competed for playing time at the same position, right guard. Barrett started the first five games of the 2001 season, Clinkscale started the rest. Getting beat out was one of the aforementioned lessons taught and learned in the trenches.
"My resilience became more evident when I lost my starting spot to Jonathan, my friend, and found a way to contribute on the defensive side of the ball my junior and senior years," said Barrett, whose strength (400-plus bench) and size (6-2, 310-plus) made him ideally suited for nose tackle.
On the D-line, he played behind the starters, Anttaj Hawthorne and Jason Jefferson.
"They took me under their wing and they really taught me the game and skill and the craft," said Barrett, who credited Alvarez for helping shape his competitive mindset. "It was the confidence that he had in me and his ability to see the value that I could bring to the team.
"Even if it was not as a starter, that helped me know the five to 15 snaps that I got could really change the outlook of the game. It's what he instilled in his coaches and what they instilled in us. And it's part of the foundation of why I am here … and where I am today."
Congratulations to our guy @Kalvin_Barrett! 👏
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 3, 2021
We're incredibly proud that you're a Badger and that you continue to serve our community. We know you'll do an awesome job. pic.twitter.com/94Pk564mXD
Whether pursuing a career in law enforcement as a deputy in the sheriff's office, or as an officer in the Sun Prairie Police Department and at Wisconsin State Fair Park. Or whether teaching his criminal justice studies class at Madison College, Barrett has fallen back on his training as a student-athlete.
"It really comes down to alignment, assignment and execution," proposed Barrett, who graduated with a UW degree in sociology. "And that's putting together a good game plan, making sure all the right pieces are in place and then executing that game plan or that lesson plan to the fullest.
"That mindset and those skills that were taught to me at that time (on campus) have really transferred over to what I'm doing now ... I've always had a fondness for law enforcement. Being a community servant or peace officer has always been in my heart."
His inspiration was his father, Herman Barrett, a San Diego County marshal, who passed away from a blood clot that invaded his heart. Kalvin was 12. At his high school Hall of Fame induction, he related, "The first time I ever did CPR was with the instructions of the 911 operator on my dad."
Obviously, it was traumatic for someone so young.
"When I was at the funeral," Barrett recounted, "I saw all the different peace officers from all over the West Coast coming to pay their respects to my father — whether it was the San Francisco or Los Angeles or Las Vegas metro police departments.
"And as a 12-year-old, I realized that it was just an honor to see all these agencies from this part of the United States … and that has always been in me … that love and that drive to be a community servant and do what is best and serve and protect the community that I'm working with."
Barrett couldn't help but think about his dad after being appointed sheriff.
"Without getting too emotional, he's proud. He has guided me through every step that I've taken since he passed away. I feel him with me every day. I feel him with me every moment. And he will be with me at my side with every decision that I make as a leader for the department and community."
Barrett still remembers the first time that he left home to enroll at Wisconsin.
Raised through his teens by his mom, Teresa, he said, "It was a terrifying experience coming from a single-parent home with a sister that looked up to me. But I decided to leave Southern California to come to Wisconsin based on the values invested in their players here and the education."
Besides Pac-12 schools, he was also recruited by Ohio State.
"I just thought it (UW) was best for me as a person even though I was farther away from my family," said Barrett, whose primary recruiting contact was offensive coordinator Brian White. "My number one goal going in (as a freshman) was to adjust and pretty much survive at that point."
Barrett had been an honorable mention USA Today All-American at Monte Vista High School (Danville, Calif.) where he was also an outstanding wrestler, one of the top heavyweights in the area. But he fell short of winning a state championship, one of his earliest lessons learned.
"I look back now and think about how complacent I may have become if I would have achieved all the success that I was expecting to," he rationalized. "It was just a slice of humble pie that allowed me to refocus and realize that obstacles come and go in our lives.
"It's how we respond to those obstacles that define who we are as an individual."
It's something that he carried with him on his journey to the Big Ten and beyond.
"I was able to use my skills, my dedication and my hard work to earn a full scholarship and then get a degree from a fantastic educational institution and I realized that my education needed to continue," said Barrett who got his master's in criminal justice from American Public University.
"Education has always been the number one foundation for me … And I realize that if I wanted to be up to date on the current practices in the criminal justice system that the only way that was going to happen was to further my education and get my master's.
"In the process, it allowed me to learn all the new and interesting ways that law enforcement can be applied from different techniques and strategies from all over the world. That was one of the founding reasons and something I thought was very important when teaching at Madison College.
"I wanted to provide an educational experience for my students that was outside of the box, but also was up to date and really taking into consideration the 21st century policing … I love teaching … it's something that has been in my heart for a very long time."
On his participation on the UW Athletics Equity and Diversity Council, he saw the opportunity to "work with some fantastic community members and servants … bringing different perspectives in how we can make the experience for our student-athletes more inclusive and equitable all across the board."
As Dane County's first Black sheriff, he said, "It means a lot and it's a great opportunity to be a mentor." He also pointed out, "I see it first as someone who was qualified and prepared for the opportunity and that happens to be a person of color …"
He's hoping what he brings to the table as peace officer and leader sets him apart.
"No matter what happens to you in your life, or where you come from, or the struggles that you've faced, if you work hard and you have the right opportunities and you build the right bridges and you do what is necessary to be successful in many situations, good things can work out in your favor."
Earlier, Barrett had admitted, "It's a humbling experience to have been appointed in this position. I look forward to working with the community in our profession. And doing some great things representing Badger Nation to the fullest."
Since Friday's announcement, he has been moved to hear from so many old teammates.
"They've reached out from all over — the ones that I'm in contact with daily but also the ones I haven't spoken to in awhile," said Barrett, whose inner circle has essentially included Clinkscale, Jeff Mack, Lee Evans, Matt Schabert and Matt Mialik, also a Madison firefighter.
He has stayed in touch, too, with Jake Wood, who shared the O-line meeting room with him for a couple of years before Barrett was moved to defense. Wood, an Iowa native, is the co-founder of Team Rubicon, a highly-acclaimed emergency response organization.
"Jake was in town a couple of years ago," Barrett said, "and a big group of us met up and had some lunch and just caught up. We text quite a bit. It's an honor to see all the great things that he has been doing for our country."
Wood has authored three books, the latest of which, "Once a Warrior," is a terrific read. He has also written on the "lessons of leadership" — something which has always been in Barrett's wheelhouse and he has applied in forming his own maxims or rules of conduct.
"My motto and what's going to lead me to success in the department and in our community is really something that is my driving force," he said. "That is, trust only flows from trustworthiness. Which is a combination of character, who I am; and competence, my ability to do my job.
"They are the twin pillars that support my character causing others to trust my intentions, direction and influence. With that in mind, I think that's what is going to guide me to be successful in this position."
Not to mention his dad's guiding light from above.
