DEPARTMENT: Office of the County Manager
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Recognition Of County Sheriff Timothy J. Leslie
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Recognize Dakota County Sheriff Timothy J. Leslie for his service to the County as Chief Deputy Sheriff from April 5, 2010 to December 31, 2014 and Dakota County Sheriff from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2023.
SUMMARY
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners has accepted the resignation of Dakota County Sheriff Leslie, effective the end of day on January 1, 2023, and upon his departure he will have dedicated 12 years of service.
Timothy J. Leslie was appointed as Chief Deputy Sheriff by then Dakota County Sheriff David Bellows and the Dakota County Board of Commissioners on April 5, 2010. He was elected as Dakota County Sheriff on January 1, 2015, and for a second term beginning January 1, 2019.
Under Dakota County Sheriff Leslie’s leadership, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office has provided outstanding services to the residents of Dakota County and to the law enforcement partner agencies of the County, effectively protected the community from crime and mayhem while maintaining the public trust. The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office was recognized several times for creative governance and leadership in creating the Electronic Crimes Task Force, for the vision and innovative Jail Programming for inmates of the County jail, and successfully obtaining funding for the building of the Safety Mental Health Alternative Training (SMART) Center, designed to provide a state of the art facility to deliver crisis intervention training for first responders.
Dakota County Sheriff Leslie has established numerous innovative programs, including many aimed at preventing crime, improving the efficiency of delivering needed services, and reducing liabilities to the citizens of Dakota County; To include- A drone program, 24 hour nursing in the County jail, a Citizens Advisory Council, supporting a robust inmates motivated to change (IMC) unit in the County jail, outfitting deputies and park rangers with body worn cameras, assigning a deputy to the US Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force, establishing a deputy for commercial vehicle enforcement, and for developing a comprehensives wellness program that establishes peer mentors and annual visits with a psychologist for members of the Sheriff’s Office.
Dakota County Sheriff Leslie has served on numerous federal, state and local boards, councils and committees, including the Minnesota Sheriffs Association Board and as Legislative Chair, as a board member to the Twin Cities Security Partnership, as a member of the Governor's Council on Justice Reinvestment, as President of the Dakota Chiefs of Police Association and as the first ever Executive Sponsor to the Employee Resource Group - The Black Employee Network in Dakota County.
Dakota County Sheriff Leslie has received numerous awards and professional recognitions from various national, state and local governmental agencies and public and private organizations for his many contributions to public safety, crime victims, crime prevention efforts and his dedication and commitment to justice, and public safety. He continues to teach and mentor others who are pursuing careers in law enforcement.
On behalf of the citizens of Dakota County, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners desire to recognize Timothy J. Leslie for his outstanding dedication, exemplary service and long-standing commitment to Dakota County government, public safety and justice by adoption of a resolution commemorating Dakota County Sheriff Leslie’s service.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Recognize Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie for his service to the County.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, Timothy J. Leslie was appointed as Chief Deputy Sheriff by then Dakota County Sheriff David Bellows and the Dakota County Board of Commissioners on April 5, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Timothy J. Leslie was elected as Dakota County Sheriff on January 1, 2015, and for a second term beginning January 1, 2019; and
WHEREAS, under Dakota County Sheriff Leslie’s leadership, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office has provided outstanding services to the residents of Dakota County and to the law enforcement partner agencies of the County, effectively protected the community from crime and mayhem while maintaining the public trust; and
WHEREAS, under Dakota County Sheriff Leslie’s leadership, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office was recognized several times for creative governance and leadership in creating the Electronic Crimes Task Force, for the vision and Innovative Jail Programming for inmates of the County jail, and successfully obtaining funding for the building of the Safety Mental Health Alternative Training (SMART) Center, designed to provide a state of the art facility to deliver crisis intervention training for first responders; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County Sheriff Leslie has established numerous innovative programs, including many aimed at preventing crime, improving the efficiency of delivering needed services, and reducing liabilities to the citizens of Dakota County; To include - a drone program, 24 hour nursing in the County jail, a Citizens Advisory Council, supporting a robust inmates motivated to change (IMC) unit in the County jail, outfitting deputies and park rangers with body worn cameras, assigning a deputy to the US Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force, establishing a deputy for commercial vehicle enforcement, and for developing a comprehensives wellness program that establishes peer mentors and annual visits with a psychologist for members of the Sheriff’s Office; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County Sheriff Leslie has served on numerous federal, state and local boards, councils and committees, including the Minnesota Sheriffs Association Board and as Legislative Chair, as a board member to the Twin Cities Security Partnership, as a member of the Governor's Council on Justice Reinvestment, as President of the Dakota Chiefs of Police Association and as the first ever Executive Sponsor to the Employee Resource Group - The Black Employee Network in Dakota County; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County Sheriff Leslie has received numerous awards and professional recognitions from various national, state and local governmental agencies and public and private organizations for his many contributions to public safety, crime victims, crime prevention efforts and his dedication and commitment to justice, and public safety; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners has accepted the resignation of Dakota County Sheriff Leslie, effective the end of the day on January 1, 2023, and upon his departure he will have dedicated 12 years of service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That on behalf of the citizens of Dakota County, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby commends Timothy J. Leslie for his outstanding dedication, exemplary service and long-standing commitment to Dakota County government, public safety and justice while serving as Dakota County Chief Deputy and Dakota County Sheriff from April 5, 2010 to January 1, 2023.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: None.
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Andy Benish
Author: Joe Leko