Chief Gary Rutherford

After more than 30 years in law enforcement — including serving the citizens of Farmington as Chief of Police — I am now proudly retired from public service.

That said, I still care deeply about the safety of our communities and the quality of the leaders entrusted to serve them. That is why I wholeheartedly endorse my friend, Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko , for reelection as Dakota County Sheriff.

Sheriff Leko is a man of integrity, professionalism, and steady leadership. Throughout my career, I had the privilege of working alongside Joe on numerous public safety initiatives, and I can say without hesitation that Dakota County is well-served by his leadership.

I respectfully encourage the citizens of Dakota County to support Sheriff Joe Leko for reelection.

Do you really want to know why there is a recruiting and retention crisis in Minnesota law enforcement?

It is because the State, in this instance, Hennepin County, continues to prosecute brave young men and women, trying to put them in prison for doing the job they are paid to do. Trooper Ryan Londegran was legally permitted to be where he was. Trooper Londregan was legally authorized to take Mr. Cobb into custody and Mr. Cobb was legally required to comply. When Mr. Cobb chose to flee with another Trooper hanging part in and part out of the car, Trooper Londregan was not only justified in his decision to use deadly force, but some would also argue that he was obligated to do so in defense of his partner.

Trooper Londregan made a decision under the incredible stress of a dynamic and rapidly evolving use of force incident, a situation the Hennepin County Attorney obviously knows nothing about. In fact, she felt the need to hire an outside use of force expert to help guide her decision-making. That is until he told her that Trooper Londegran acted lawfully to save his partner. So she ignored her paid expert and criminally charged Trooper Londregan anyway.

Cases like this are why so many cops have left the profession early and why so few young men and women are seeking to join our ranks. Who can blame them? You do your incredibly difficult job to the best of your ability and human limits, but if someone in authority doesn't like your decision or the outcome of your decision, they'll seek to have you fired, prosecuted, and imprisoned. Who would take that risk?

Fortunately for all of our communities there are still some amazing officers that continue to show up and hold the line. I thank God every day that there are still a few brave young men and women that remain undeterred and continue to pursue this noble profession.

These are some of the finest human beings any of you will ever have the privilege to meet. I'm proud to call them my brothers and sisters. I sleep well knowing they protect my city. But there are fewer and fewer of them every day because of reckless, politically-motivated prosecutions that are tearing apart the very fabric of our society.

It is long past time that people like me, active and working police chiefs, started publicly standing up for the men and women in all of our agencies. They have earned nothing less than our full support.

It is time to end this sham and dismiss the charges against Trooper Londregan.

Stay tuned for updates and unique perspectives!