The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been asked to probe a complaint about the residency of Ramsey County Sheriff Jack Serier after a potential political rival raised the issue.
Former Sheriff Bob Fletcher filed the complaint with St. Paul police on Monday, and it was deferred to the BCA because Serier is a police employee on leave for his current post.
The issue has followed Serier since the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners appointed him sheriff last year to fill behind the early retirement of Matt Bostrom. Serier has maintained that he has not violated the residency requirement.
"I'm glad the BCA will have an opportunity to review the facts," Serier said in a written statement issued Thursday. "I lived in Ramsey County prior to my appointment to Sheriff and continue to do so today."
The complaint comes during an election year that sees a DFL-endorsed Serier running for sheriff against law enforcement veteran Mike Martin, who said his campaign won't end despite losing the DFL endorsement.
"I haven't changed my mind yet," Martin said Thursday. "My campaign is still in full gear."
Martin is assistant director of emergency management for the University of Minnesota and was a Minneapolis police officer for 23 years.
Fletcher has been more coy with his intentions, although he has announced that he won't run for re-election for his current post as mayor of Vadnais Heights. Fletcher said Thursday that he'll decide this month whether he'll run for sheriff.
