Why I'm Running
To ensure a well-rounded, highly trained, and competent effort providing public safety services and protection to our citizens, with integrity, community investment, selfless service, courage, compassion, and common sense –
IN A MANNER THAT ENSURES PUBLIC TRUST
The Decision to Run for Sheriff
I am passionate about my service to Goodhue County. Keeping my family, neighbors, and fellow citizens safe, secure, and preserving the peaceful way of life here has become my life mission.
Failure to Lead
During the initial onset of COVID-19 and the initial days, weeks, and months of the George Floyd and “Police Reform” movement, I witnessed too many law enforcement leaders fail to act, fail to execute, and in the name of self-preservation and uncertainty, among other reasons, maintaining a safe and hidden posture. At the same time, our first responders navigated the uncharted territory and chaos in the field, undertrained, under supported, with no confidence in leadership. To maintain the sanctity and safety of our communities, we must first ensure that those tasked with the mission to provide this are trained and supported to an incredibly high standard. This starts by the top setting the example to follow and set the course. If we do not set the right path, someone, some entity, or the next agenda will set the course for us. I think that would likely result in adverse consequences.
"Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men."
THE WRONG PRIORITIES.
INVESTIGATIVE CAPABILITY SLASHED.
Like other parts of our country, Goodhue County has been impacted by the Opioid Crisis, catalytic converter thefts, and communities simply falling victim to theft, drugs, and violence. As this occurs, our current leadership cuts investigations to a minimum, essentially rendering the Division operationally ineffective and unable to support efforts against these ongoing crises in our communities.
TREATMENT OF OUR PROTECTORS.
A Chief Deputy who unfairly targeted staff over subjective issues. Working in subjectivity does not require facts, articulation, or credibility. Just the position. Most disturbing – the Sheriff who allowed it.
LACK OF STANDARDS AND TRAINING.
A Country demanded law enforcement take a deep look inside and increase standards and training. However, our leadership only deteriorated standards and eliminated training. Budget surpluses were widely flaunted. The truth was that some of those surpluses resulted from time not spent in critical areas preparing our law enforcement for the challenges that lay in wait ahead of them. From the perspective of our protectors in the field – it’s off of their backs.
“COVID,” like the word has been exploited for other purposes, has been the cover here in Goodhue County as well to articulate this reckless posture taken by our leadership. Just one example to illustrate this point, in the post-George Floyd days, the average Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office Deputy received three (3) hours of use of force training for the YEAR…Online training, a contagious and dangerous replacement for critical reality or scenario-based training, would account for additional hours of training. However, this is failing our front-line, which is failed leadership by definition.
THIS IS WRONG.
FOR THE PROTECTORS – FOR THE COMMUNITY
“To keep the wrong leader in the wrong place prevents the right leader from being in the right place.”