UNSUNG HERO – Eric Toney – Fond du Lac district attorney

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Eric Toney is a career prosecutor, with a passion for seeking justice while making Wisconsin a safer place to live, work and play.

Toney said he always has had a passion for community service and giving back.

“I was concerned with crime in the community I grew up in and wanted to address it in a positive light to help people be safe,” Toney said.

With more than a decade of experience in the District Attorney’s office, Toney has won more than 50 trials, putting some of Wisconsin’s most dangerous criminals behind bars. He was also instrumental in ending a constitutional crisis in the Badger State due to underpaid public defenders and district attorneys that resulted in staffing shortages and court backlogs.

He comes from a family heavily devoted to public service, as his father (now retired) worked in Wisconsin local law enforcement.

When Toney isn’t in a courtroom, you’ll find him volunteering on the board of several organizations, including as his role as president of the Wisconsin District Attorney’s Association and in teen court diversionary programs.

In Toney’s capacity of president of the District Attorney’s association, he’s worked tenaciously with elected officials across both political aisles to help resolve Wisconsin’s constitutional crisis.

“It was incredibly rewarding to work with the Justice Coalition,” Toney said.

Toney said his legal career has been very fulfilling.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to be elected district attorney in a place I was born and raised. Working with law enforcement on a daily basis to keep the community safe makes it easy to go to work every day,” Toney said.

Toney said he is also grateful for the bonds he has built with the community. He also praised his colleagues across the state.

“There are so many challenges facing prosecutors across the state. We make difficult decisions daily throughout Wisconsin.”