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Lac qui Parle County Sheriff's Office
Telephone: 320-598-3720
Fax: 320-598-7555
rick.halvorson@lqpco.com
Lac qui Parle Sheriff’s Office History
The first Sheriff of
Lac qui Parle County was John Maguire, starting in 1872-1873, he was followed
by Peter Simpson 1873-1875, Ole Robertson 1875-1877, Peter Simpson 1877-1879,
E.F. Jacobson 1879-1883, John Maguire 1883-1885, A.D. Brown 1885-1891, T.C.
Farmen 1891-1895, B.F. Miller 1895-1901, J.F. Ellickson 1901-1913, G.E.
Smaagaard 1913-1958, Merle Ryder 1958-1959, Vearl Fields 1959-1983, Graylen
Carlson 1983- present.
Lac qui Parle has had
its crimes over the years, two recorded bank robberies, 1933, Feb 3, May 5th
of Klein National Bank, and the bank robbery of 7-11-96 of the Marietta State
Bank.
Six recorded murder
cases; 3 cases were acquitted with 3 convictions.
The duty of the County
Sheriff has basically stayed the same over the years.
Sheriff’s position is
an elected position and has remained that was since the county was organized.
Over the past few years a movement has been made for appointment of the
position, but has not gone anywhere in the legislature as the public opinion
has always been strong that the Sheriff remain an elected position, along with
the County Attorney.
Sheriff’s duties have
always included, civil process duties, to include paper service, conducting
sales, accepting bonds, collection of debts. At times like in 1933 and 1985 the
Sheriff’s duty to sell property on mortgage foreclosures was not a popular one.
Being a peacekeeper included intervening in family squabbles, street corner
brawls, and other violent crimes, duty includes maintaining public trust while
making sure that the legal rights of all citizens are protected.
Times has brought
changes with crime fighting techniques for the Sheriff’s, for the first 75
years, a gun and a badge was all that was needed, and most of the time, the gun
was not needed. The last 25 years has developed the tools of communication
systems, laboratories for evidence collected, radar’s, and intoxilizers, on and
on requiring special skills and training.
Early years every city
and village had a police officer for regular patrol and responses to
emergencies. Today only Boyd, Dawson and Madison have there own police
departments, leaving the other cities being covered by the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff is
responsible for operating the county jail, keeping prisoners behind bars, and
providing them food, clothing and medical care. They also take care of
transporting the prisoners to and from court and other places when needed.
In 1891, the first Lac
qui Parle County Jail was built for $6,600. It was a two-story brick building
with two bedrooms, dining room, living room, kitchen and bath on the first
floor. Jail was on the second floor with three rooms, one cell in each room,
and one cell for two prisoners, one cell for three prisoners, one cell for one
prisoner, and all lavatories being located outside of each cellblock. There was
a lavatory in each room and one bathtub for all. County Jails are and have been
inspected by state inspectors. As back as 1898 the county jail was not up to
standards by the state. Issues of the jail not being fireproof only one exit
for the prisoners. The jail was located on the 2nd floor; the main
floor was the sheriff’s residence. The sheriff’s residence did not have enough
sleeping rooms for his family, and the sheriff’s family used the women’s cell
for sleeping which the state inspector did not approve of.
Again in May 1963, the
State Jail Consultant inspected the jail and met with the county board advising
them that something had to be done.
At a special election
on February 25th, 1964, a bond to build a new jail was voted on.
Then in April 1964, the old jail was torn down.
The contract was
awarded to Abner Nelson of Montevideo, and on July 31, 1964 they started
building. It was to be completed on January 31, 1965, but was finished on
February 28th, 1965.
The jail is a one-story
building that will hold up to prisoners. It has one eight-man maximum security
cell, one two-man security cell, two thee-bed dormitories, one drunk cell, a
photo room, and interrogation room, full kitchen, and office and two car
garage. Cost of the 1963 jail being $98,466 and the attached residence had a
cost of $15,221.
Up until 1983, the
Sheriff wives had the duties of cooking, cleaning and laundry for the prisoners,
in many cases the entire Sheriff’s family would be involved in the jail and
telephone answering duties.
In 1983, the county
jail was again, found to be below standards and was required to make changes to
remain open.
Sheriff’s residence was
converted into administrative office space, giving space to the jail allowing
secure vision room and booking room. Recreation room and small library was also
developed. These changes have satisfied the State of Minnesota, getting 100%
inspection ratings over the last 15 years.
Up to about the early
1960’s the only communication to the Sheriff was telephone. With the 2-way
radios coming along, the Sheriff and his family was responsible to answer 7
radio-controlled patrol cars in the 1960’s.
In 1965, the first radio
operator was hired, Ann Marie West. Ms West worked 5 nights a week, 7pm-2am for
$5.00 a night. Ms. West worked as a radio operator/jailer until 1993.
As of January 1, 2007
Lac qui Parle currently has 4 full time, 3 part-time jailer/ dispatchers, 1
full time jail administrator. Jailer/dispatchers are responsible for the jail
duties as well as the county 911 telephone and radio duties. Communications
with 4 sheriff’s deputies, 3 police departments, 7 fire departments, 3first
responder units, 3 ambulance services.
Today’s 911 system is
computerized, with all 911 calls into the Lac qui Parle Sheriff’s Office, with
information as to where the 911 call is coming from and any possible special
conditions at that location.
Currently
the Sheriff’s Office works with a yearly budget of $700,000, working with
federal and state grants to support some of the expenses. The jail houses, out
of the county prisoners creating approximately $40,000 in income to the county,
charging $55.00 a day to out of county prisoner for boarding. There is
approximately 1200-prisoner day a year is recorded. Over 300 civil process
papers are dealt with. Approximately 15,000 telephone calls a year are recorded
and 17, 000 radio transmissions. 150-175 fire, ambulance and law enforcement
calls for service are received.