Jail chief put on paid leave

Crow Wing County Jail Administrator Rod McCulley was put on paid administrative leave for disciplinary issues, the Crow Wing County administrator said today.

The administrative leave was imposed on McCulley by Crow Wing County Sheriff Dick Ross about two weeks ago, said Crow Wing County Administrator Peter Herlofsky Jr.

McCulley's administrative leave follows sexual discrimination complaints filed with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in June against the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department.

The complaints, filed by three female employees of the sheriff's department, cited job discrimination based on gender. McCulley and the jail figured prominently in the complaints.

Herlofsky said McCulley's administrative leave was an issue of discipline, but he wouldn't say whether it was a result of the complaints filed against the sheriff's department.

The Crow Wing County Board could discuss the issue at today's meeting, Herlofsky said.

"We're hoping to have the issue resolved soon," said Herlofsky.

Sgt. Debi Backdahl was appointed the acting jail administrator when McCulley was put on administrative leave. Backdahl was jail administrator before McCulley, Herlofsky said.

In August, the county board approved reorganizing the jail administrator position at the rank of lieutenant, though not necessarily a licensed peace officer.