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Sheriff Telkamp refuses to resign; plans to run for re-election

SLAYTON — Murray County Sheriff Steve Telkamp responded Wednesday to a request from the county commissioners demand for him to resign — his answer was no.

The request was made Tuesday after hearing the report on an investigation that was conducted earlier this year by Soldo Consulting Group Attorney Michelle M. Soldo under the direction of the county’s employment attorney Laurel Pugh.

“I am going to seek re-election as sheriff of Murray County and continue to provide the same services, which I have always done with the limited resources that the county board and county coordinator Aurora Heard have given me,” Telkamp said in a letter emailed to the Independent and other media outlets.

In that letter, Telkamp accused the Murray County Board and Heard of singling out several of his employees in an illegal open meeting.

Commissioners Gerald Magnus, Dave Thiner, Lori Gunnink and Heard were on an open microphone in an open meeting room talking about terminating employees and how to control the sheriff, Telkamp said.

“Through his budget (we can control him) and we can eliminate his staff,” he had overheard Heard say. That statement was followed by a comment from Heard that she has long wanted a certain member of the sheriff’s department fired, he said.

Telkamp revealed he also received a letter from the county board on Feb. 3, asking for his resignation and threatening to release a video from the investigation that would be damaging to his reputation.

That video was released to the media on Tuesday.

The video shows the sheriff using explicit language in a passionate discussion of his recent encounters with the board. Telkamp apologized for the language he used.

Telkamp also referred to the board meeting of Jan. 17 where he had confronted the board and Heard regarding their aforementioned comments of retaliation. In response, the commissioners had told the sheriff that they had wanted him to come to their board meetings, but he had been neglecting to do so.

Telkamp merely said he didn’t know he was required to attend the meetings and would try to make regular appearances in the future.

At the Jan. 24 meeting, the sheriff had returned to the county board to present a more detailed work schedule which was approved by the commissioners.

Telkamp was at the January meetings to support the staff scheduling they were trying to change.

“You can’t do that,” Telkamp had told them. “That would be against union policy.”

In his letter of response, Telkamp said, “I will always support my staff when they are threatened or mistreated. The stress and hostility that the county commissioners have caused my staff is unjust.

“These deputies and sheriff’s office staff are your neighbors and friends,” he said, “working holidays, weekends and nights, sacrificing time with their own families to protect yours. When their sacrifice is undermined, I take it personally.”

Telkamp also said he will continue to lead the Sheriff’s Department despite the calls from the board to step down.

“As your elected sheriff, I will not stand by and watch a dishonest county board and county coordinator take control of your county,” he said. “If the county commissioners continue to strip me of my duties, they are stripping you of your rights. We must have checks and balances. You elected me to serve and protect, and as long as I am sheriff, I will do just that.”

The Independent left message with commissioners and Heard to respond to Telkamp’s letter but received no responses back at press time Wednesday.

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