Sgt.

Wednesday, January 26, 2000

Sgt. Robert C. Pedersen will retire next month, ending a distinguished career in law enforcement.

Pedersen announced his retirement his week and was honored Tuesday at the Mower County Board of Commissioners’ meeting. He received an appreciation plaque from Ray Tucker, 2nd District commissioner and chairman of the county board.

Pedersen, a former unsuccessful candidate for Mower County Sheriff, has worked as a patrol deputy and for the past 12 years as the chief jailer.

Pedersen supervised 10 civilian jailers and did administrative, budgeting and policy-writing tasks, concerning the 45-prisoner capacity jail.

Mower County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson praised Pedersen for his public service to law enforcement.

"He’s going to be missed," Simonson said.

The process for filling the chief jailer’s position begins immediately, according to Sheriff Simonson, who said he expects candidates to come from within the ranks of the sheriff’s department.

In another personnel matter announced today, Marlys Sorlie, a long-time communications center employee has been promoted to communications supervisor.

She replaces Carla Stoa, the former long-time employee, who was terminated earlier this month.

Sorlie is a former detectives’ secretary, who has extensive experience in the Austin-Mower County law enforcement center’s communications dispatch center.

According to Sheriff Simonson, four employees from within the dispatch center applied for the supervisory position. A posting for Sorlie’s former position has begun to fill the vacancy.

At this time, county officials say no criminal charges have been filed against Stoa and that the circumstances surrounding her dismissal are being investigated by an outside agency.