WHAT I STAND FOR
A NEW GENERATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
St. Louis County is in need of a change, the current generation of law enforcement has been running the county the same way for years. If I get elected as the next sheriff, I have some big changes I would like to implement. These changes involve our community members more than ever before. They say that when one door closes, another door opens; I like to think of this time of transition as the closing of one door in the sheriff’s department and the opening of a new door to a world of possibilities. I want to be that open door for St. Louis County. I will bring to our county a fresh, unbiased perspective, new technology, new partnerships, and a new generation of law enforcement. The current law enforcement did a great job with the resources and time they had, so I would like to build on that and create an even better department. My life experience, as well as my law enforcement background and great work ethic, promise to make St. Louis County a safer place to raise our families, build our businesses and protect our way of life.
When most people think of an election, they think politics. However, I am running for sheriff of St. Louis County, not a political office. The position of Sheriff is an elected position, a Sheriff is not appointed. I am not a politician. I am a citizen just like everyone else. I believe that everyone is created equal and I treat them as such.
I represent everyone in St. Louis County without taking political sides. By not taking a political side, I owe no favors. I am here for the people, this means every one of them, not just ones who have helped me or supported me. Having support or endorsements is a great thing, but they are not absolutely necessary to win over the citizens of our county. You, the citizens, are not voting for an endorsement; you are voting for a person who will stand up for what they believe in and stand up for your rights.
Coming into this election with the fresh perspective of an outsider is very important to me. My lack of a political background has given me great experiences to bring to the table as sheriff for St. Louis County. These experiences include spending time as a military police officer in various states and countries and as a civilian police officer in South Dakota and Moose Lake, MN currently. I’ve owned and operated multiple local businesses while managing millions of dollars and many employees. My experience does not lean towards politics, but rather towards people.
Building on my experience with law enforcement and customer relations has given me the outside perspective needed to build the new generation of law enforcement that our sheriff’s department so desperately needs. My diverse background in the military, as an entrepreneur, a family man, and law enforcement officer made me into the well-rounded individual that I am today. My point of view has changed as much as my life has. I am not a person who has stayed in the same position in the same locale for most of my career, therefore I see what needs to be changed, updated, and fixed with a fresh set of eyes. I am a forward-thinking man who is always looking at ways to improve the future of our families and communities. Life does not stay the same, so we should not either. My outside perspective will be a breath of fresh air if I get elected as sheriff.
All law enforcement agencies should work together to form a unified front for the residents of their area. Without this unified front, cracks evolve into bigger issues that cannot be easily resolved. However, working as a team helps citizens to understand that we are here to help and protect them. It also lets people know that there is always someone out there to enforce the law, therefore helping quell any possible criminal activity. The Duluth Police Department asked me to gain their endorsement. It’s not surprising that I did not receive it, because as of right now, I am not in contact with Duluth PD through the sheriff’s department. I hold no hard feelings against the DPD and understand why they decided to endorse the candidate that they did. To find out more about what I think, please click here. If I get elected, I hope to create a professional partnership with the DPD and all other area police departments for the sake of our residents and their safety.
One of the most important aspects of being sheriff is to be totally transparent with the people residing in St. Louis County. Your tax dollars fund the department, the sheriff’s department belongs to you. You are entitled to know how your money is being spent. I plan to utilize the departmental funds to implement my goals, such as creating a public relations division using the latest electronic technology. This technology includes websites and social media. The department has a duty to inform the public of potential threats and risks in their area, as well as other issues that may arise. I believe that it is on the sheriff’s department to explain and educate the public about how to identify these risks. This information can be shared amongst the communities in order to work together and head off these threats before they become issues. Using this same technology, we can give minute-by-minute updates of what is happening at that very moment. I would also like to form committees that work together within their communities to inform their deputy via local, town hall-style meetings of current happenings. I see this as a neighborhood watch style committee that would create a safe space for all to live in.
I intend to be accessible to everyone, being honest and open is just as important as being transparent. The sheriff should be the person you can go to if you are not getting the answers you need from the deputy. As sheriff, I will be just a phone call or door knock away. You will be able to reach me directly. It is the sheriff’s duty to respond to the citizens and make the appropriate decision for their well being. Through my open-door policy and promise of transparency, I intend on being a sheriff that people can relate to and come to in times of need.
The sheriff’s department is owned by and works for the citizens of the county. For this reason, the community should be involved in the actions taken by their local department. By having monthly meetings with the deputy, community members can keep the department updated on what is happening around their area. Law enforcement cannot possibly be everywhere to stop every crime from happening. However, if we have enough community members involved in watching out for their fellow neighbors, we are bound to have a decrease in crimes. I believe that the more engagement we have from our community makes for happier and healthier people who create the environment they want to live in and raise their families in. Not every family has two parents or extended family members to help out, but the saying “it takes a village” is true. With a village of willing citizens, we can build a successful and safe life for all.
My background and work in law enforcement has helped me to understand life and all of it’s trials. I understand the struggles faced by single parents, parents on the road, and parents without support during hard times. I see that it is not always possible for a parent to watch their kid during every moment of the day. This is where that village comes into play. As a community, it is our job to help each other out. If you see your neighbor going down the wrong path, talk to someone as a concerned citizen. This is preventive maintenance. If we can prevent the crime, we do not have to correct it.
I believe we all know of someone, maybe in our own families, with drug and alcohol problems. These problems only get worse with time if they are not helped. This is the perfect spot for the sheriff’s department and the community to step in and help to prevent something bigger to come of these problems. The department must get more involved in the community and work to develop more ways for families to reach out and talk to the deputies and the sheriff. I have aspirations to create something big in St. Louis County with the sheriff’s department. I want to make sure people know that the department is to be used for more than just busting the bad guys, but to help the citizens to get their lives on track and avoid potential future risks. I believe that the more closely engaged our community members are with each other and the sheriff’s department, the less corrections we will have to make. The best and safest way is prevention.
When prevention fails, correction must take place. As your sheriff, I will be accountable for everything that happens in the department during those corrective moments. The sheriff’s department must be accountable to the public for all actions taken, but they must also be accountable amongst themselves. The way the public perceives the department is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, the media typically only shows one part of how a situation is handled, so the media perceives law enforcement officers in a certain way. But, if we are responsible for letting the public know what happens after the fact, we are being accountable and open. We can shift the way the public perceives the department with some simple honesty. Accountability does not only mean that the department should be transparent with how situations are handled, but also with the budget. As the department is funded by the people, they should know that the department is open about everything that money is being spent on. Part of what I would like to see those funds being used towards is new technology.
We are in one of the most exciting times to be alive right now. Technology is increasing and being updated in abundance. It is only fitting that the sheriff’s department should use this to their advantage. With the amount of new ways to adapt policing to the modern world, there is no reason to be left behind the times. We should be embracing the new technology that is available to us and always be on the lookout for what is to come next. As sheriff, I would encourage all of the deputies to familiarize themselves with the latest technology and find out how it can be of use to the department.
Along with new technology comes new training. With new deputies comes a younger generation with a willingness to learn brand new ways of handling situations. In today’s world, technology is the most common way of learning new skills. So many things are done via electronic means, which means the training is readily accessible. Most professional fields have required recurrent training, whether it be nurses, truckers, realtors,or insurance brokers; there is no reason this shouldn’t be the same for law enforcement officers with all of the new technology that is constantly being released. I believe ongoing training should be more than just done to fulfill requirements, but to improve how we do everything within the department.
One piece of technology that I am surprised to know that St. Louis County did not use until very recently is the body camera. This technology is relatively old in today’s world and there is no reason to not employ it for the safety of officers and civilians. Body cameras are extremely beneficial in saving civilians from unprofessional acts and law enforcement officers from false claims. I believe that officers should be equipped with them in order to be completely transparent with the public about how they are doing their job. We have seen cell phone footage all over the news, YouTube, and social media, but these videos can be edited to favor one side over the other. With the use of body cams, there is no more “he said/she said” but only the cold, hard facts displayed on the screen.
To keep up with the times, we must keep up with technology. This is why, in my visits all over the county, I have come to the conclusion that body cameras are what the citizens want and need. I have listened to what they have to say about what will make them feel safer in their county. I have made it very clear that my intention is to administer body cams to the sheriff’s department if I get elected. However, as of November 2021, Sheriff Litman went ahead with this idea and purchased body cams for the department.
I always say that the biggest mistake that can be made is a permanent solution to a temporary situation. This goes for both civilians and law enforcement officers alike. For this reason, I would like to see the sheriff’s department employ non-lethal tactics before they even consider reaching for their firearm. There is no reason a conflict cannot be resolved before it gets to the point of being lethal. I so firmly believe in this, that I have donated multiple pepperball guns to various police departments in St. Louis County. In my quest for new technology, I am always searching for alternatives to lethal force. I will make it my duty to ensure the citizens of St. Louis County are safer than ever.
What separates the sheriff’s department from all other law enforcement agencies is direct accountability to the public. The sheriff’s department is there for the citizens and should be upholding the constitution as they promised when they took an oath. I am a staunch believer in being a constitutional sheriff. As a law enforcement officer, I agreed to abide by the law in everything I do on the job. I would expect the rest of the sheriff’s department to do the same. The constitution was created to protect everyone and I fully intend to do just that.
