Retired Dakota County sheriff appointed to Stearns County job
Retired Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson has been appointed to fill the vacant sheriff position in Stearns County.
The Stearns County board of commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday to appoint Gudmundson. He was one of three finalists for the job, which has been vacant since Sheriff John Sanner retired in April.
Gudmundson has served as sheriff in Fillmore and Steele counties and police chief in Lakeville and Faribault. He also has worked as a homicide detective in Detroit and investigated organized crime in Chicago.
Gudmundson will earn a salary of about $150,000. He has said he is not interested in running for election in 2018, when Sanner's term expires.
Sanner had recommended his chief deputy Bruce Bechtold be appointed to replace him, but the board decided to accept applications for the job. The other finalist was Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud.
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