Posted: 11/8/05
Peterson sworn in as new sheriff
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Thereís a new sheriff in town.
Darryl Peterson was sworn in at the November 1 Houston County Board meeting.
A room full of deputies and police officers watched as Judge James Fabian administered the oath of office.
Peterson then did the same thing for Ken Frank, who was appointed chief deputy. Frank was also chief deputy under former sheriff Mike Lee, who resigned on October 31.
Peterson said he was happy to see officers from all different departments at the meeting. They are all working together for a common goal, he said.
Second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher reiterated the importance of that. ìAll you folks in the room, youíre the team,î he said.
Kelleher called law enforcement the most important job in the county. ìWe appreciate all of you that do what youíre doing,î he said.
Familiar with Houston County
Peterson, 57, is very familiar with Houston County. He worked for the Minnesota State Patrol from 1979-2003, and was assigned here for his first 11 years. He lived in Caledonia during that time and built up a lot of positive feelings towards the sheriffís department. Sheriff Dennis Swedberg treated him like a brother, Peterson said. ìHe was a mentor.î
In 1990, Peterson moved to Rochester when he received a promotion to lieutenant.
The biggest law enforcement priorities, Peterson feels, are drugs, specifically methamphetamine, and sexual predator registration.
ìSpecifically itís too early for me to tell you exactly [the priorities],î he told The Argus on November 3.
Peterson said several times in the interview that he is impressed and proud of whatís going on in the Houston County Sheriffís Office. He said it was never a question that he would retain Ken Frank as chief deputy. He has developed a trust by working with department members over the years. ìYou kick a door or handle a bad accident, the trusts are formed from that,î Peterson said.
Peterson and his command staff will put together goals and objectives, but right now is more of a time for him to sit back and observe things.
He welcomes the chance to speak to civic and community groups. ìI want the feedback,î he said.
After retiring from the state patrol in 2003, Peterson tried a variety of jobs, from private security to substitute teaching. He said itís hard to explain why he applied for the one-year appointment of sheriff here. He said he saw the ad and saw it as a good fit. ìRetirement isnít for everybody,î he said.
Peterson said itís sobering seeing his name on the plaque in the sheriffís office that contains the names of all of the past sheriffs. ìThatís a big responsibility,î he said. ìItís very important that you treat the office appropriately. Thatís what I intend to do.î
A sheriff will be elected in November of 2006.
He and his wife, Diane, have three children: Danielle Steele, New Prague; Scott Peterson, Ft. Meyers, FL; and Jeremy Peterson, Dallas, TX. They have four grandchildren.
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