Jason Seidl

BROWN COUNTY — After 12 years as Brown County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy under Sheriff Rich Hoffmann, Jason Seidl entered the race for Brown County Sheriff June 5, when Hoffmann withdrew his name from the primary ballot.

“I have decided that it is time for a new chapter in my life. It’s time,” Hoffmann said in withdrawing. “We have one grandchild and another on the way. I want to spend more time with my family. Going forward, I would like to offer my full support to Chief Deputy Jason Seidl.”

Seidl said he wants to continue to develop and successfully manage the sheriff’s office and jail. He would like to add a K9 unit and search-and-rescue drone as a county-wide resource. In addition, he added a full-time emergency management director to the 2019 county budget and would add drug take-back boxes in Sleepy Eye and Comfrey.

“I love my job and want to continue to serve the citizens of Brown County as sheriff,” Seidl said. “Under my direction, we have attained a shared, county-wide record-keeping system. Our record management system is used by each county agency. We can view what is being recorded by other county departments. It is a positive arrangement for us all and has benefitted us greatly.”

In addition, Seidl said the sheriff’s office was the first in the county to use body cameras, e-charging and e-citations, paperless filing of court documents.

Seidl said the sheriff’s office web page has an up-to-date jail roster and current, active warrant list. The public can leave tips on an untraceable tip line.

In addition, the sheriff’s office and emergency management implemented the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and Nixle emergency warning systems used when emergency systems arise and other communications avenues may be out of service.

“Together, Sheriff Hoffmann and I have managed the sheriff’s office and all the great people that work for it,” Seidl said. “I have prepared, managed and balanced the sheriff’s office $3.9 million budget for the past 12 years. I have the experience and knowledge to continue this great work.”

Seidl said the ability to work with other departments is crucial to the ongoing success of the sheriff’s office.

“I possess strong communication skills and have the ability to formulate logical solutions in a timely manner.” Seidl said. “With my becoming sheriff, there will be no learning delay. The job is part of my working knowledge”

In addition, Seidl said he will work towards upgrading the jail camera system to better serve employees and jail population to keep everyone safe.

Seidl said the sheriff’s office is the lead agency in ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training to combat an active shooter in our schools, hospitals, government entities and private businesses and industries.

In addition, he said he will work to upgrade the Brown County Law Enforcement Dispatch Center to accommodate the next generation 911 system that will send and receive text and videos in dispatch and relay to officers.

“This will be useful for time-sensitive matters and for officers to have all the same information at the same time,” Seidl said.

Seidl said his parents instilled a great sense of loyalty and community service in him. A 1988 Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s High School graduate, he earned a BS degree at Mankato State University in 1991, majoring in law enforcement, minoring in corrections. He studied Minnesota Peace Officer Skills at Hibbing Technical College in 1992.

Seidl worked as a Sergeant at the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton from 1992 to 1994 before taking a 911 dispatcher job at the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. He was jail programmer from 1994 to 2007 and has been chief deputy since 2007.

In addition, Seidl worked as a Morgan Police officer from 1995 to 1998.

Jason and his wife Joleen Rostenstengel have been married for 24 years. Their children are Joshua, a high school senior; Megan, a junior; Kyle an 8th grader and Matthew, a 7th grader.

fbusch@nujournal.com