Dahl gets help from friends

Campaigning as a Crow Wing County sheriff's candidate has given Todd Dahl a chance to reconnect with some old friends.

• Photos

As a lifelong resident of Crow Wing County, Dahl said on a daily basis he runs into people he knows who offer him encouragement in his run for sheriff.

"Being from here I wouldn't expect anything less," Dahl said. "The people of this county are wonderful."

Crow Wing County sheriff's candidate Todd Dahl met with LouAnn (left) and Richard Broneak recently at their northeast Brainerd home. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist

Dahl, 41, has worked for the sheriff's department since 1987, with 15 of those years in a supervisory capacity. He believes he has the experience to run the department. In his capacity as a patrol sergeant and administrative sergeant, Dahl has supervised the department's boat and water division, tactical and search/rescue teams, the K-9 division, civil processing, the transport division, courtroom security, DARE and the Law Enforcement Explorers. He also has instructed law enforcement training for firearms, defensive tactics and use of force.

Todd Dahl

Age: 41.

Residence: Unorganized Territory.

Education: Graduate of Brainerd High School and received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Bemidji State University. He also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

Professional background: Nineteen years as a Crow Wing County sheriff's deputy, 16 of those years as a patrol supervisor. He is also a law enforcement instructor at Central Lakes College and is a firearms and defensive tactics instructor. He has supervised the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department's boat and water division, tactical and search/rescue teams, the K-9 division, civil processing, the transport division, courtroom security, DARE and the Law Enforcement Explorers.

Civic/community involvement: Instructs martial arts and coaches youth hockey and baseball. Also has volunteered on two mission trips to Haiti.

"We want people to vote for the most highly trained, educated and experienced officer," he said.

Dahl has never run for public office before. On Tuesday he will square off against Troy Schreifels and Eric Klang in the primary election, where two candidates will be selected to continue onto the Nov. 7 general election.

Dahl said while campaigning he has put on countless miles and knocked on too many doors to remember. But in talking to people, he said the most important issues appear to be drug enforcement, having the sheriff available to residents and keeping the public appraised of law enforcement trends such as Internet crimes, crimes against children and identity theft.

A key in running for sheriff, he said, is communication.

"Keeping the citizens apprised of what the sheriff's department is doing is important to me," he said.

Despite the grind of a campaign for a political newcomer, Dahl said he hasn't been surprised by anything because he has been preparing to run for sheriff for so long.

"As long as I've been with the county, 19 plus years, I've been gearing up for this," Dahl said. "My training, education and experience has geared me up for this."

In fact, the only shock of the campaign has been the amount of time it has taken.

"That's the only real eye-opener for me," he said.

Dahl said he plans to keep knocking on doors through the weekend leading up to Tuesday's primary to get his message out to as many people as he can.

"This whole process has been a really positive, not just for my wife but for my whole family. We're receiving nothing but positive comments," Dahl said. "It certainly helps to be from here - born in Crosby and raised in Brainerd."

Dahl and his wife, Sue, have two children, Eryn and Peter.

MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.