# Sheriff *The elected county law enforcement office, and its record in Minnesota.* The sheriff is a public office found in several countries with historical ties to England, where the office began. Its mix of legal, political and ceremonial functions differs from country to country. In American practice the sheriff is usually chosen by county voters and serves as a sworn law enforcement officer. The office's work commonly covers patrol outside incorporated municipalities, operation of the county jail, security for the county's courts and, in some states, delivery of warrants and court papers. It often also carries civil enforcement duties.[^1] In Minnesota, the documents gathered for this record show the sheriff as an elected officer whom the county board that funds the office cannot remove. Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson pleaded guilty to fourth-degree DWI on December 16, 2021.[^2] Twenty-two days later, on January 7, 2022, five of the seven Hennepin County commissioners publicly called for his resignation. The Star Tribune reported that, because the sheriff is elected, "the board has no authority to remove him from office."[^3] On February 2, 2022, Hutchinson announced that he would not seek re-election. He also declined to leave office early.[^4] The record also includes the Stearns County sheriff's September 2018 statement that the Jacob Wetterling investigation "went off the rails".[^5] It includes Democracy Now's account of pre-emptive raids led by the Ramsey County sheriff before the 2008 Republican National Convention.[^6] Ramsey County re-elected its sheriff in 2022 with 96.4 percent of the vote.[^7] The Carver County Sheriff's Office keeps a public document archive on its investigation of the death of Prince.[^8] ## Who **Hennepin County.** Fox 9 identified David Hutchinson as Hennepin County sheriff at the time of the December 8, 2021 crash and the December 16, 2021 plea.[^2] The Star Tribune reported that the sheriff is an elected official, outside the board's removal power.[^3] **Ramsey County.** Democracy Now reported that the September 2008 raids were led by [[Ramsey County Sheriff]] Bob Fletcher.[^6] Ballotpedia records that Fletcher was re-elected in 2022 with 136,429 votes, or 96.4 percent. It records that Ramsey County Attorney [[John Choi]] was re-elected the same year with 137,761 votes, or 97.7 percent. The project's Ramsey County history describes both races as effectively unopposed.[^7] **Stearns County.** The [[Stearns County Sheriff]] gave the September 2018 press conference on the Wetterling case.[^5] The *Star Tribune* then published a profile of the sheriff. It centred on his statement that he could not ignore flaws in the case.[^9] **Carver County.** Sheriff Jim Olson announced his retirement on February 6, 2018,[^10] after 31 years with the office.[^11] On January 8, 2019, Carver County announced that Sheriff Kamerud had been sworn in, with the oath given by Judge Michael D. Wentzell. The county's release noted Kamerud's 28 years with the [[Carver County Sheriff's Office]], six of them as Chief Deputy under Olson.[^12] Candidate filing for 2026 closed on June 2, 2026. Kamerud did not seek re-election. Five candidates entered the sheriff's primary of August 11, 2026, and the county attorney ran unopposed.[^13] ## What **The Hennepin County crash.** Fox 9 reported that Hutchinson crashed his government-issued SUV on I-94 near Alexandria at about 2:30 a.m. on December 8, 2021. It reported that he was travelling at about 120 mph, was not wearing a seat belt, and had a blood alcohol content of 0.13. He pleaded guilty to fourth-degree DWI in Douglas County.[^2] KARE 11 reported a sentence of 90 days, stayed, with a $610 fine and two years of probation. The probation carried chemical-assessment and abstinence conditions. The formal sentencing date is not stated in the sources the project could reach.[^14] **The 2008 Ramsey County raids.** Democracy Now reported that pre-emptive raids were carried out on activist homes days before the Republican National Convention opened in September 2008. It reported that eight people, the "RNC 8", were "charged with conspiracy to riot".[^6] The record in this pack does not establish how those charges ended. **The Wetterling investigation in Stearns County.** APM Reports' timeline dates the abduction of [[Jacob Wetterling]] to October 22, 1989, in St. Joseph. It links the abduction to an assault in [[Cold Spring]] in January 1989. The timeline also records that a suspect was arrested on February 9, 1990, interviewed while intoxicated, and released for insufficient evidence.[^15] At the September 2018 press conference, the Stearns County sheriff said the [[Wetterling investigation]] "went off the rails" and that "all of us failed." He called the 1990 interview "perhaps the most fatal flaw." He also said that agents of the state [[Bureau of Criminal Apprehension]] had been "kept at arm's length".[^5] APM Reports covered the investigation documents released at that time.[^16] Two retired FBI special agents, Al Garber and Steve Gilkerson, disputed the sheriff's account in public. One of them had led the 1990 interview. They called the sheriff's characterization "irresponsible and a disservice to the public."[^17] The *[[Star Tribune]]* separately reported that the lead FBI agent on the case rejected the sheriff's claims of a bungled investigation.[^18] The Stearns County Sheriff publishes a *Major Unsolved Cases* page.[^19] **Carver County's Prince archive.** The Carver County Sheriff's Office posts the documents of its Prince investigation. They include: - the incident report of April 21, 2016; - the 911 transcript; - warrant orders of April 28, 2016; - the Medical Examiner's release of June 2, 2016; - the County Attorney's press release of April 18, 2018.[^8] ## When The record's earliest sheriff entry comes from a Wright County history compilation drawing on *Minnesota in Three Centuries* (1908). It names the sheriff as George Bertram (also spelled Betram). According to the compilation, he promised a prisoner protection, then surrendered him, and was later arrested as an accomplice. On August 2, 1859, about 93 disguised armed men freed a second man from custody. Three militia companies were sent to [[Monticello]] on August 5, 1859, among them the Pioneer Guard of St. Paul under Colonel John S. Prince. They were withdrawn on August 11, 1859.[^20] The Hennepin County sequence runs as follows. The crash took place on December 8, 2021, and the plea on December 16, 2021.[^2] The board's call for resignation followed on January 7, 2022,[^3] and the announcement that Hutchinson would not run again on February 2, 2022.[^4] ## Where The Hennepin County sheriff's crash took place on I-94 near Alexandria, and the case was heard in Douglas County.[^2] The Wetterling abduction took place in St. Joseph, Stearns County, and the linked assault in Cold Spring.[^15] The 1859 militia deployment went to Monticello in Wright County.[^20] ## Why Officials' stated reasons appear in the record only as their own words. The Stearns County sheriff gave the 1990 interview and the exclusion of state agents as his reasons for saying the case went off the rails. The FBI agents disputed that account.[^5][^17] Hutchinson explained his refusal to resign by saying: "I refuse to be pushed out of my role as sheriff by political figures with alternative motives."[^4] The record does not establish the basis for either account. ## How Because the sheriff is elected, the board that funds the office has no power to remove the person who holds it. The Hennepin County board said so in January 2022.[^3] Oversight records for one county show what review did and did not find. For Carver County, the project's review located no Department of Justice Civil Rights Division pattern-or-practice investigation, findings letter or [[consent decree]].[^21] It identified no [[POST Board]] discipline of a Carver County officer, against a statewide total of 36 disciplinary actions in 2025.[^22] It located no jail death.[^23] These are negative-result findings of the project's search, not findings by those agencies. ## How much Hutchinson agreed to pay Hennepin County $47,000 for the wrecked squad vehicle, CBS News Minnesota reported.[^24] His reported fine was $610.[^14] The Wright County compilation puts the state's expense for the 1859 militia deployment at about $12,000.[^20] ## How many - **Hennepin County, 2022:** five of seven commissioners called for the sheriff's resignation.[^3] - **Ramsey County, 2022:** the sheriff received 136,429 votes.[^7] - **Carver County, 2026:** five candidates entered the sheriff's primary.[^13] - **Wright County, 1859:** the compilation records about 93 men in the armed group, three militia companies and eleven arrests.[^20] ## In the at-issue record The project's at-issue record pairs each Hennepin County item below with a federal "anchor" document. The anchor documents set out federal policy on waste, fraud, accountability and discrimination. They do not themselves address Hennepin County. - [[At issue 051 - On January 7, 2022, five of Hennepin County's]] states that five of seven commissioners called for the sheriff's resignation on January 7, 2022, that the board had no authority to remove him, and that he stayed eleven more months.[^25] - [[At issue 052 - The sheriff crashed a county SUV at roughly]] states the December 8, 2021 crash, the 0.13 blood alcohol content, the plea eight days later and the $47,000 reimbursement. It adds that the sheriff served out his term.[^26] - [[At issue 053 - I refuse to be pushed out of my]] sets Hutchinson's statement beside his guilty plea seven weeks earlier.[^25] - [[At issue 054 - Hennepin County's Sheriff and County Attorney are separately]] states that the sheriff and county attorney are separately elected. It states that the [[medical examiner]], auditor-treasurer and recorder are appointed by the board.[^25] - [[At issue 057 - Law, Safety and Justice is about 15 of]] gives [[Law, Safety and Justice]] as about 15 percent of Hennepin County's 2026 budget and the [[Operations and Disparity Reduction]] line as 13.8 percent.[^27] - [[At issue 098 - Michael Freeman took a leave of absence in]] records that County Attorney [[Michael Freeman]] took a leave in 2019 for alcohol-addiction treatment and returned to office. It notes that the same structure that kept the sheriff in place applied to the elected [[county attorney]].[^25] A separate pair, AI-Scott-061, rests on a court record. It states that absolute or quasi-judicial immunity was granted to the [[guardians ad litem]], therapists, court-appointed counsel and a local police officer. It also states that summary judgment was reversed in favor of the county attorney, the sheriff and a deputy.[^28] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Sheriff* (rev. 1379932744, retrieved 2026-10-27) — origin of the office and the typical duties of a U.S. county sheriff. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheriff [^2]: Fox 9, *Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson pleads guilty in drunk driving crash* (December 2021) — crash on I-94 near Alexandria about 2:30 a.m. December 8, 2021; reported speed about 120 mph; unbelted; BAC 0.13; guilty plea to fourth-degree DWI December 16, 2021, Douglas County. https://www.fox9.com/news/hennepin-county-sheriff-dave-hutchinson-pleads-guilty-in-drunk-driving-crash [^3]: Star Tribune, *Majority of Hennepin County Board calls for Sheriff David Hutchinson to resign* (January 7, 2022) — five of seven commissioners call for resignation; "the board has no authority to remove him from office." https://www.startribune.com/majority-of-hennepin-county-board-calls-for-sheriff-david-hutchinson-to-resign/600133601 [^4]: Axios Twin Cities, *Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson won't seek reelection* (February 2, 2022) — announcement and quoted statement. https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/02/02/hennepin-county-sheriff-dave-hutchinson-wont-seek-reelection [^5]: Star Tribune, *Sheriff says case went off the rails* (September 2018) — Stearns County sheriff's press conference statements on the Wetterling investigation. https://www.startribune.com/stearns-county-sheriff-says-jacob-wetterling-case-went-off-the-rails/493816581/ [^6]: Democracy Now, *As the RNC opens in St. Paul* (September 2, 2008) — pre-emptive raids on activist homes led by Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher; "RNC 8" charged. https://www.democracynow.org/2008/9/2/as_the_rnc_opens_in_st [^7]: Ballotpedia, *Bob Fletcher* (2022) — Fletcher 136,429 votes, 96.4%; County Attorney John Choi 137,761 votes, 97.7%. https://ballotpedia.org/Bob_Fletcher [^8]: Carver County Sheriff's Office, *Prince Investigation* (document archive) — incident report 04/21/2016, 911 transcript, warrant orders 04/28/2016, Medical Examiner release 06/02/2016, County Attorney release 04/18/2018. https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/county-sheriff/general-information/prince-investigation [^9]: Star Tribune, *Plain-spoken sheriff said he couldn't ignore flaws in Jacob Wetterling case* (2018) — profile of the Stearns County sheriff. https://www.startribune.com/plain-spoken-sheriff-said-he-couldn-t-ignore-flaws-in-jacob-wetterling-case/494049991 [^10]: Carver County Current, *Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson announces retirement* (February 6, 2018) — retirement announcement. https://carvercurrent.com/2018/02/06/carver-county-sheriff-jim-olson-announces-retirement/ [^11]: Star Tribune, *Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson retires after 31 years on the force* (2018) — length of service. https://www.startribune.com/carver-county-sheriff-jim-olson-retires-after-31-years-on-the-force/473745833 [^12]: Carver County, *Sheriff Kamerud, Attorney Metz, Commissioners Workman and Lynch All Sworn In* (January 8, 2019) — oath given by Judge Michael D. Wentzell; Kamerud's 28 years with the office, six as Chief Deputy under Olson. https://www.carvercountymn.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2842/18 [^13]: Hometown Source, *Carver County races set; sheriff's race will see August primary* (June 2026) — filing closed June 2, 2026; Kamerud not seeking re-election; five-candidate primary August 11, 2026; county attorney unopposed. https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_patriot/community/carver-county-races-set-sheriffs-race-will-see-august-primary/article_0e2f362a-8bfe-4d71-b57f-1bd2cc6598d6.html [^14]: KARE 11, *Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson sentenced for DWI* (2022) — 90 days stayed, $610 fine, two years of probation with chemical-assessment and abstinence conditions. https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/hennepin-county-sheriff-david-hutchinson-sentenced-dwi/89-b3d2d774-7b63-4738-ac52-3b261b2a1653 [^15]: APM Reports, *In the Dark: Jacob Wetterling investigation timeline* — abduction October 22, 1989, St. Joseph; January 1989 Cold Spring assault; February 9, 1990 arrest, interview and release. https://features.apmreports.org/in-the-dark/jacob-wetterling-investigation-timeline/ [^16]: APM Reports, *Wetterling investigation documents* (September 20, 2018) — coverage of the released investigation file. https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2018/09/20/wetterling-investigation-documents [^17]: Star Tribune, *Sheriff's criticism of Jacob Wetterling investigation was irresponsible* (2018) — rebuttal by retired FBI special agents Al Garber and Steve Gilkerson. https://www.startribune.com/sheriff-s-criticism-of-jacob-wetterling-investigation-was-irresponsible/494973271 [^18]: Star Tribune, *Lead FBI agent refutes Stearns sheriff* (2018) — lead FBI agent disputes claims of a bungled investigation. https://www.startribune.com/lead-wetterling-fbi-agent-refutes-stearns-county-sheriff-s-claims-of-a-bungled-investigation/493904701/ [^19]: Stearns County Sheriff, *Major Unsolved Cases* (county web page) — the office's published list. https://www.stearnscountymn.gov/1224/Major-Unsolved-Cases [^20]: Genealogy Trails, *Wright County history* (compilation drawing on *Minnesota in Three Centuries*, 1908) — Sheriff Bertram/Betram; August 2, 1859 rescue by about 93 men; militia at Monticello August 5–11, 1859; about $12,000 state expense; eleven arrests. https://genealogytrails.com/minn/wright/history_war.html [^21]: U.S. Department of Justice, *Civil Rights Division* (agency site) — searched; no Carver County pattern-or-practice investigation, findings letter or consent decree located. https://www.justice.gov/crt [^22]: MN Crime, *Records detail 36 police disciplinary actions in 2025* (2025) — statewide 2025 POST Board total; no Carver County officer identified. https://www.mncrime.com/latest/records-detail-36-police-disciplinary-actions-in-2025 [^23]: Carver County, *County Sheriff* (agency page) — agency page reviewed in the negative-result search. https://www.carvercountymn.gov/government/county-sheriff [^24]: CBS News Minnesota, *Sheriff Hutchinson agrees to pay Hennepin County $47K for squad car wrecked in DWI crash* (2022) — reimbursement agreement. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/sheriff-hutchinson-agrees-to-pay-hennepin-county-47k-for-squad-car-wrecked-in-dwi-crash/ [^25]: The White House, *Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos* (March 2025) — federal anchor document for at-issue pairs AI-051, AI-053, AI-054 and AI-098; does not itself address Hennepin County. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/stopping-waste-fraud-and-abuse-by-eliminating-information-silos/ [^26]: The White House, *Protecting America's Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse* (March 2025) — federal anchor document for at-issue pair AI-052. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/protecting-americas-bank-account-against-fraud-waste-and-abuse/ [^27]: The White House, *Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity* (January 2025) — federal anchor document for at-issue pair AI-057. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/ [^28]: The White House, *Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes New Department of Justice Division for National Fraud Enforcement* (January 2026) — federal anchor document for at-issue pair AI-Scott-061. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-new-department-of-justice-division-for-national-fraud-enforcement/