About Undersheriff Wes Rethwill

Wes grew up in a small farming community in Southern Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota before graduating from Mankato State University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology.

Wes began in law enforcement career as a teenager, working during the summer as a bicycle patrol officer and providing safety talks at summer recreation programs through his hometown police department. Soon after he became a reserve police officer for the Waseca Police Department and worked as a reserve deputy for the local sheriff’s office. His work continued with the Waseca Police Department as a part-time police officer as he attended college. In May of 1986, he began his career with the Washington State Patrol, (WSP) where he worked for the next 29 years. While with the WSP, he worked his way up through the ranks in various assignments before retiring as a Captain on January 15, 2015. Wes is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session #254

On January 1, 2015, Wes was appointed by Sheriff Rob Snaza to serve as undersheriff for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. As Undersheriff, he is responsible for the overall operations of the Sheriff’s Office, which consists of over 100 employees and a annual operating budget of over $14 million.

Wes is excited to get back to his local law enforcement roots by serving on Sheriff Snaza’s executive management team. The great women and men of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office stand ready to be leaders within their community and provide the best in public safety through professional service. When not at work, Wes enjoys spending time with family and time in the duck blind.