To the Editor:

Please consider voting Sgt. John Bachman for your next Mower County Sheriff as he will prove to be the best leader.

Sgt. Bachman has over 30 years experience as a law enforcement officer, with 20 years of them with Mower County Sheriff’s Office as deputy sheriff and current Civil Division Sergeant. Sgt. Bachman’s previous experience as Chief of Police, Sergeant/On-Call Supervisor and MCSO’s Squad/Fleet Manager have all provided him the necessary administrative experience to effectively lead and manage budgets, citizen concerns, HR/personnel issues and maintain healthy relationships with staff, city council and commissioners.

Currently, as MCSO’s  Civil Sergeant, Sgt. Bachman supervises this division that serves as an arm of the court. Sgt. Bachman coordinates service of critical court orders including orders for protection, domestic abuse no-contact orders and harassment restraining orders. These orders require expeditious service to ensure law enforcement can keep crime victims safe, as the speed offenders are served — the sooner law enforcement can arrest those who disregard those orders. Sgt. Bachman also supervises other important eviction orders, foreclosures and other important civil law enforcement such as garnishments and repossessions.

John worked under my supervision from 2002-2016. After I retired in 2017, he was immediately promoted as best choice for the civil sergeant. Sgt. Bachman transitioned into this supervisory role without any assistance or guidance and did so naturally. Transitioning to any promotion in this manner is a necessary requirement for becoming a true leader as the sheriff. Sgt. Bachman has always possessed these abilities, in addition to professionalism, fortitude and devoted work ethic.

Working side by side with John, I trusted he would identify and prioritize the day’s workload even before meeting with me for our daily brief. Day after day, I witnessed John’s effortless attention to detail and devotion to the courts, crime victims and the public.

Another one of John’s priorities was his love for his co-workers’ well-being. Sgt. Bachman has continually been elected by the uniformed staff of MCSO for 18 years as their union president (Law Enforcement Labor Services, LELS). John has taken great pride in protecting the rights of these dedicated and hard-working staff who respect him and entrust their rights in him. Sgt. Bachman has been involved with many mediations and contract negotiations while continuing crucial/favorable discussions with all sides to protect his employees. Sgt. Bachman has also taken employee’s benefits language directly to the Minnesota State Legislature for change on their behalf.

I have never witnessed John to be one continuously sitting in the office visiting with co-workers, wasting precious taxpayer dollars on the clock. In viewing John’s detailed, daily activity log — on relives his day as if you were on a ride-along. MCSO is a smaller department, so deputies have always been encouraged to complete their own follow-up investigating their own reports. Whenever able, Sgt. Bachman chooses to do so, as he has the skills, knowledge and determined work ethic to do so. This often times may save valuable time for investigator’s workloads. In turn, also saving taxpayer dollars to allow investigators to concentrate on their own cases.

As a fellow deputy, I saw him always willing to take another call to help ease the load of a partner. And I can attest that Sgt. Bachman responds to a call as back-up. Once John arrives, his experience arrives with him. While working side-by-side with him, I can guarantee that every call he responds to ensures the public is safe, the bad guys get locked up and the victims are reassured and provided all the resources they need.

Sgt. Bachman holds the most experience, by far the best work ethic, dedication to all and most qualified leadership abilities. Any deputy can have held many positions within a department, but it is work ethic and dedication that makes the best leader. John listens to and provides citizens with everything they need during his interaction with them. The same holds true for his fellow co-workers who wear the flag on their uniforms.

John has always been the Good Samaritan who will find you on the side of the road and stop to change your flat tire while he’s off-duty (and in the pouring rain). Yes, he’s that guy.

– Martha Hauschildt

Retired Sergeant MCSO

Brownsdale