Letter to the Editor from Dan Marx

(Newly-appointed Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx has written this Letter to the Editor):

I would like to take this opportunity to publically thank Leon Bohr for his 13 years of service to Winneshiek County as our Sheriff, and wish him well in retirement.

I also want to express my appreciation to the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors for unanimously appointing me Sheriff on April 1st.  I thank them for entrusting me to lead Winneshiek County law enforcement into the next era.

The Board's decision to appoint our Sheriff to fill the term until the next general election in 2016 was a financially responsible decision, which echoed the wishes of the majority of our county.  Their ability to work as a united Board in making this important decision demonstrates a strong commitment to the people they serve and the interests of Winneshiek County.

 would like to take this opportunity to express my respect for the other candidate for Sheriff, Tim Felton.  He, and the citizens of our county, can be reassured that he will continue to be a valued member of my office.
I am also humbled by the level of overwhelming support I've received from the citizens of Winneshiek County and my colleagues in the law enforcement community.  Thank you to everyone who wrote letters of support on my behalf, made phone calls, or offered kind words to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. 

I am already heavily engaged in my responsibilities as Sheriff.  I want to personally thank my tremendous staff of deputies, jailers and civil clerks for the hard work and dedication they have put forth during this transition.  We have a lot of great things happening at the Sheriff's Office, and are making positive changes to ensure a bright future for Winneshiek County.   We have already launched a Facebook page to provide increased transparency, interaction and information-sharing with the public (www.facebook.com/WinneshiekCountySheriff), and look forward to enhancing our website in the very near future.  Please be assured the transition into new leadership will be positive, proactive and seamless.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Sheriff.  I will provide honest, fair, and friendly law enforcement, and am committed to keeping Winneshiek County a safe place to visit, work and live.  Together, we will ensure the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office is among the best in the state.