Gudmundson named interim sheriff in Steele County

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Former Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson has been selected sheriff

again, this time in Steele County.

At a special Steele County Board of Commissioners meeting Friday

afternoon, the commissioners authorized county coordinator Dave

Severson to begin contract negotiations with Gudmunson, who retired as

Dakota County Sheriff at the end of February.

Gudmundson was one of two finalists for the interim position. A third

candidate withdrew his name from consideration. As part of the

selection, each candidate agreed he will not be a candidate for the

position this fall.

The other finalist was A. Paul Monteen, standards coordinator for the

Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training board.

The current Steele County Sheriff, Gary Ringhofer, announced he would

retire this month — before the end of his current term.

Gudmundson, too, retired before the end of his current term. The term

ends at the end of 2010.

He announced last September he would not seek a fifth term as Dakota

County Sheriff, choosing to retire at the end of 2010, but he changed

his mind in February and announced his plans to resign at that time.

He cited “personal and family reasons.”

Gudmundson is a former police officer and homicide detective from

Detroit, Mich. He also investigated organized crime in

Chicago. He is the former sheriff of Fillmore County, and the former

chief of police in Lakeville.

Gudmundson was first elected Dakota County Sheriff in 1994, and was

re-elected in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

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