Judge Darren Stancik, Justice of the Peace for Precinct #1, will be retiring at the end of this year, serving 16 years as JP, and with the county law enforcement in general, serving nearly 40 years.
Born and raised in Ganado, his interest in law enforcement began growing up as a child, when his mother, Frances, became a Justice of the Peace in Ganado. It furthered when his brother, Kevin, became a law enforcement officer.
“I became a policeman and I worked with the Jackson County Sheriff’s office for 23 years, I remember the date: March 18, 1988. When Bobby Doelitsch resigned as JP I decided to run for the office in 2010 and I’ve been here ever since,” Stancik said.
He spoke about some of his memories sitting in the JP Precinct #1 bench, from holding criminal court hearings, small court claims, driver’s license hearings, truancy cases, and more.
“One of the happier things I get to do is performing marriage ceremonies, and that’s pretty neat to see love right there in front of you,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my job and I feel like I’ve been able to reach out and help people.”
Stancik has had some truancy cases and has enjoyed experiencing the success stories. He said some who began in his office didn’t think they would graduate high school, and after his involvement, have been able to see them graduate.
“That’s satisfying,” he commented. “Sometimes it feels like you’re trying to sweep sand off a beach, but if you can make a difference with one person, you’ve made a difference.”
He had a few phrases of advice for whomever will sit in his chair: Look at everything with a fair mind to make fair and impartial decisions, Be a good listener and don’t let your personal feelings or emotions affect your decisions, and keep good communications with law enforcement.
“The hardest part of my job are death inquests, where I have to go out and pronounce people dead, and there have been some tough issues with that, pronouncing people that I’ve known, and children, those are tough.
Fortunately my background in law enforcement helped me on how to deal with that,” he said.
Stancik is ready to retire and look at a different angle of life. In being an outdoors person, he loves camping, hunting and fishing, and he has people to enjoy it with: three grand-baby boys all under the age of five, not to mention his wife, Donna, of 36
years.
“It’s time to let somebody else come in with newer, fresher ideas,” he said. “I’m going to go and enjoy life, but I’m not going to disappear!”
Stancik wanted to say a big thank you to Dora Gonzales, who’s been working with him since he began in 2011, and Taylor Gerjes, who’s been working for him for four years now.
“They’re such a great help and know their jobs, they’re great at what they do.”
