Sheriff rises to top of state group

For the first time ever, Steele County’s top law enforcement official has taken on dual roles of leading both state and national organizations at the same time.

Sheriff Lon Thiele took over as president of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association Dec. 9 during the group’s winter conference in Brainerd. It’s only the second time a Steele County sheriff has led the state organization. The late William Hildebrandt led MSA in 1996.

However, Thiele is the first sheriff in Steele County to lead MSA as well as FBI-LEEDA, a national organization offering premier leadership training and education for law enforcement professionals. Thiele was sworn in as president of FBI-LEEDA earlier this year.

MSA is represented by sheriffs from all 87 counties in Minnesota, one of the few organizations to have 100% representation. It focuses on the training and legislative advocacy for sheriffs and residents throughout Minnesota.

“We have a very, very strong organization in the state,” said Thiele. “It’s one of the strongest ones in the nation. The MSA makes us better leaders and it makes our communities safer.”

At last week’s conference, Jacques Battiste, executive director of FBI-LEEDA, swore Thiele into his new state role. All but one of the national board directors attended Thiele’s ceremony. Battiste called a sheriff leading both state and national organizations as “a rarity.”

Battiste said he is impressed with Thiele’s candor, integrity and compassion for people. “When he gives his word, unless he dies, he will live up to what he is going to do,” he said of Thiele. 

As president of MSA, Thiele plans to lead through some of the greatest challenges facing law enforcement. He said the ever-changing laws pertaining to traffic and drug offenses are at the top of the list. In addition, he wants to focus on the mental health of officers.

“My focus will be on unity, communication and making sure every sheriff feels supported and represented,” he said. “We need to speak with one voice when it comes to preserving the rule of the law and upholding statutory or constitutional rights,” he added.

Thiele has found the value of MSA to be enormous. The group provides resources and guiding leadership that’s invaluable, he said.

MSA provides training opportunities for deputies across the state. The organization also offers yearly scholarships to students wanting to go into law enforcement as a career.

“I try to involve myself in as much public safety input as I can,” said Thiele, who has served as Steele County’s sheriff since 2010. “I want to put my goals and philosophies in action,” he added.

Jim Stuart, who served as sheriff in Anoka County for many years, said he went through rookie sheriff class together with Thiele. Stuart calls being elected sheriff by citizens as a gift and privilege, and an equal honor when a group of sheriffs elect you to represent them.

“He’s always been a strong support for other sheriffs,” said Stuart, who now serves as executive director of MSA and will work closely with Thiele. Stuart added the six-month overlap of Thiele serving both MSA and FBI-LEEDA “speaks to the leadership the sheriff brings to the table.”

MSA has been in existence since 1885. “No sheriff stands alone,” Stuart said. “MSA provides resources so that their communities come out stronger on the back side.”

Sheriff Thiele said he is grateful to the citizens of Steele County for electing him to the position for four terms, which in turn has allowed him to serve on the state and national levels. “It’s such a humbling feeling and not an easy task to lead both organizations,” Thiele said.

Even as Thiele juggles both MSA and FBI-LEEDA for the next six months, he remains committed to where his roots are. “I’m the sheriff of Steele County. My priorities are with Steele County,” he said.

He joked how it may be a challenge until next June when his term ends with FBI-LEEDA to know which badge to wear. He said he’ll keep both close to the vest, along with Steele County’s badge.

Thiele began his law enforcement career in South Dakota in 1990. He returned to Steele County in 2003.