On February 28th, a plaque, along with heartfelt thanks for 35 years of service to the Special Deputy Unit, was presented to Special Deputy Dennis Millerbernd.

Photographed (left to right) were:

Special Deputies Thomas Wilson and Louis Henderson, Sergeant Booker Hodges, Captain Joe Leko, Sheriff Dave Bellows, Commander Dan Scheuermann, Special Deputies Denny Millerbernd, Juan Balli, Dave Stanek, and Anthony Pojman, and Sergeant Scott Durdall

Members of the Sheriff's Dive Team were on hand for the Polar Bear Plunge in Burnsville on February 25, 2012.  Pictured (left to right) were:

Sergeant Jim Iliff, (back row) Deputy Jeff Leopold, Detective Steve Forrey, and Deputy Brian Smidt, and (front row) Detective Thomas Jacobson, Deputy Amber Hentges, Detective Coreen Kulvich, and Detective Matt Wayne

Sheriff Bellows (pictured in the brown hat) was among a group of law enforcement officers and others dedicated to raising money for Special Olympics by jumping into the frigid water at this year's Polar Bear Plunge.

Assisting at the Polar Bear Plunge were four members of our Special Deputy Unit.

Pictured (left to right) were:

Special Deputies Randy Smith, Dave Stanek, Louis Henderson, and Juan Balli

On February 22, 2012, a Health and Wellness Fair was held at the Dakota County Technical College.  Photographed here (left to right) were Deputies Phoutivanh Sourignavong, Lonna Broze, and Krystal Johnson.  Also working at the health fair was Deputy Scott Bensen.

On the 21st of February, our wonderful staff of volunteer chaplains were honored and thanked for the countless hours they spend working with inmates in the confines of the jail.  In the photograph at right, the uniformed deputies pictured are Sheriff Dave Bellows, Captain Brad Jeska, and Commander John Grant.

On February 14th, the County announced the recipient of this year's HEROS Award.  The award was presented to the Prescription Drug Take Back Program, a collaborative effort between Public Health, Environmental Management, the County Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Office.  Photographed (left to right) were:

Shannon Bailey (Public Health), Captain Joe Leko, Lori Frekot (Environmental Management), Sheriff Dave Bellows, Laura Villa (Environmental Management), and Monica Jensen (County Attorney's Office)

On February 6, 2012, a formal swearing in ceremony was held to recognize the promotion of Correctional Lieutenant Jodi Rolloff (left) and three newly-hired correctional deputies.  Left to right, they are Adam Smith, Brandon Rogers, and Courtney Brown.