KENOSHA, Wis. — Lt. Bryan Easter has been promoted to Acting Captain of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, a move made official on October 16, 2025, Sheriff David Zoerner confirmed. Easter will shed the “acting” title in January when longtime Captain Eric Klinkhammer retires.
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
Sheriff Zoerner also announced two additional promotions within the agency: Mike Pittsely has been elevated to Acting Lieutenant, and Michael Preston has been promoted to Acting Sergeant, further rounding out changes to the command structure heading into 2026.
In his new role, Captain Easter is transitioning into the position of Captain of Detention, where he will oversee both the Kenosha County Jail and the Kenosha County Detention Center. His responsibilities span the full operational landscape of the detention division, including staff leadership, compliance with state and federal standards, safe and efficient facility management, and long-term strategic planning for both facilities.
Easter’s career has spanned two decades in public safety, beginning in 2005 as a 911 telecommunicator. He joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2008 and went on to serve in Patrol, the Traffic Interdiction Unit, Marine Unit, and the Mobile Command Unit. Promoted to Sergeant in 2018, he led second-shift patrol and launched the Sheriff’s Drone Unit, becoming its first commander and driving the program’s expansion.
After becoming a Lieutenant in 2021, Easter served as the agency’s Policy Coordinator and primary Internal Affairs investigator, managing internal and external investigations. He was appointed Administrator of the Kenosha County Detention Center in 2023 before being reassigned in 2024 to lead the Division of Professional Standards. He holds an associate degree from Gateway Technical College and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Herzing University.
Sheriff Zoerner said Easter’s broad experience and consistent leadership made him the right choice for the promotion.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
“Captain Easter has proven himself to be a steady, reliable leader with a deep understanding of our agency’s operations,” Zoerner said. “His experience across multiple divisions, his work expanding our Drone Unit, and his commitment to accountability and professional standards made him the right choice for this promotion. He brings integrity, strong operational knowledge, and a calm, solutions-focused leadership style that strengthens our command staff and benefits the entire Sheriff’s Office.”
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4 Responses
Are the new guys in step with current sheriff?
What do you mean?
Looks like Zorner and Easter could be related!😂
The Beth saga again? Zoerner promote his relative?