Public Safety

ABOVE AND BEYOND Several Sheriff’s deputies honored with lifesaving awards

Even within a public safety agency it sometimes takes a while for the real facts to surface. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office found that out recently when it discovered only one of two deputies involved in saving a man’s life back in 2010 had been recognized. Deputy Scott Prins had previously been...

Staff Photo: Richard Johnson Kathy Klaassen, second from left, pauses for a photo with Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose, at far left; Jack Davy of the Minnesota 100 Club; and Klaassen’s children, Mark Klaassen and Jean Allen. Kathy Klaasen’s husband, former Hayfield police chief Doug Klaassen, died 18 years ago from injuries sustained while on duty. The Klaassens will travel to Washington, D.C., to honor Doug for his sacrifice.

Local groups to send fallen chief’s family to Washington for memorial

The widow of a fallen Hayfield police chief honored locally just a few months after dying 18 years ago from injuries sustained while on duty will be making a trip along with other family members to Washington, D.C. next month to honor him for his ultimate sacrifice. Kathy Claassen of Kasson, her...

Commerce Department offers post-storm assistance

The Department of Commerce’s Consumer Services Center is available to help consumers with questions, concerns, or complaints following a damaging storm, flood, or tornado. High winds on March 6 caused extensive damage around southeastern Minnesota. A barn was moved off its foundation on the Wayne...

Action to end domestic violence

uesday, March 7 was “Action Day” in Minnesota – a statewide day designated to end domestic violence. Unfortunately, every community struggles with domestic violence. Dodge County is no exception. It happens here in Dodge County and throughout Minnesota. We stand with more than 20 other...

Above and beyond the call of duty

Sheriff Scott Rose is proud of the accomplishments his office makes in providing public safety to the residents of Dodge County. In continuing with an effort to recognize those achievements, Rose held the second annual awards banquet Friday night at the American Legion in Kasson. “This office...

Educate yourself before criticizing law enforcement

Recently, we’ve done some training that has gained local media attention: The Active Shooter Training we did in the Dodge County Courthouse in December, and the Simulation Training (shoot/no shoot scenarios) that we did last week. The majority of responses we heard about our efforts were very...

‘Twas the night before Christmas and public safety doesn’t stop

It’s Christmas Eve. While you and your family celebrate the holidays together at home with relatives, we are patrolling your neighborhood tonight – checking your property, your yard, your streets, looking for anything or anyone out of place. We are the ones that venture into the dark, not knowing...

Active shooter exercise to close Dodge County buildings Dec. 16

The Dodge County courthouse and Government Services buildings in Mantorville will be closed to the public, Dec. 16, from 2:30 – 7 p.m. for an active shooter training exercise. The purpose behind the exercise is to provide training to Dodge County public safety responders, as well as county office...

Community relations and law enforcement

Election Day is right around the corner, and if you are like my wife Rosie, the end can’t come soon enough. While I’m somewhat of a political junkie and enjoy watching the process, I am also tiring of the nation coverage and ready to move on. Fortunately we aren’t in an election year here at the...

Father gets anger management for punishing child

A father who apparently lost it and allegedly choked his son during an argument earlier this year has been ordered to undergo anger management. In addition to anger classes, Frank Ernest Bernau, 34, of Kasson will be required to get involved in 90 hours of community work service and he has been...