Brian Barkow graduated from Custer High School and attended UW-Milwaukee where he received a degree in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. He became interested in a career in law enforcement when he worked at Boston Stores as a Loss Prevention Manager. During this time, he was an Auxiliary Police Officer for the City of Milwaukee.

Subsequently, Brian took the test for Police Officer and Deputy Sheriff and Milwaukee County called him first and offered him a job as a Deputy Sheriff. He was hired in September 1997 where he spent approximately two years working in the jail. Brian was then offered a position at the Milwaukee County Community Justice Resource Center, an alternative to incarceration program in January 2000. Brian and another deputy took the program from a pilot program of 10 participants to a daily average of approximately 150 participants. Today the program is widely accepted by Judiciary, the Public Defender’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office as an innovative program and substitute to incarceration.

In August 2006, Brian was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and is currently assigned to the Airport Division. Throughout his career, he has used his computer background to find new and innovative ways to put technology to use in law enforcement. Brian has created several database programs, including the ones used to this day by the Community Justice Resource Center, and a variety of websites. He has always taken the approach “I need to find a better way” rather than “someone needs to fix that.”