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Sheriff Eric Wallen

for Lyon County Sheriff

Contact Me:

Email: ericwallenforsheriff@gmail.com

PO Box 192
Marshall, MN  56258


Volunteer



Paid for by the candidate on his own behalf.


Goals:


FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

The County Sheriff has an obligation to provide premier public safety services while being fiscally responsible.  As your Sheriff, I have constantly looked for ways to cut costs to the tax payers without jeopardizing public safety.  During the past four years I have worked to find alternative funding sources to alleviate the financial burden to our citizens.  During my first term as Sheriff, we were able to obtain multiple grants to off-set tax payer dollars; some of which include DNR grants to fund boat and water safety along with ATV safety and the purchase of an ATV, and state grants to provide a necessary update to the 911 phone system, and for the purchase other essential pieces of equipment.


PUBLIC SAFETY

School violence remains a pressing issue throughout the country and unfortunately Lyon County is not immune from these threats.  As sheriff, I would partner with our schools to ensure that we are sending our children to learn in the safest possible environment, assist in updating safety plans, and conduct regular drills to train school staff and local emergency responders.  As a community, we need to be familiar with the warning signs of potential violence and immediately intervene.


To prevent violence in our community I would ensure that the Sheriff's Office fully enforces provisions in law that prevent violent offenders from possessing weapons without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens.


DRUG ABUSE

Much of the crime in our community is caused by drug abuse.  As Sheriff, I will continue to work to increase efforts to combat illicit and prescription drug abuse through enforcement and education.


MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health calls continue to increase annually for law enforcement, and law enforcement needs to improve the way we respond to these calls.  Over the past four years the Lyon County Sheriff's Office has worked diligently to improve our response to meet the needs of our citizens.  We have worked with mental health providers and other partner organizations, and explored multiple options.  From that hard work we have a partnered with Western Mental Health and the Marshall Police Department to create a co-responder program.  The program provides for a trained mental health professional to be housed in the law enforcement center.  The co-responder is able to respond with officers to mental health crisis calls and provide professional mental health services on scene.  The program also allows for the co-responder to provide additional follow-up with those in need after the initial emergency has been resolved.  In conjunction with the Co-Responder Program, The Sheriff's Office is able to provide additional mental health services to those with need who are incarcerated in the county jail, by assisting in a transition of services being provided in the jail to what services can be provided upon release.


With help of the great team within the Sheriff's Office we were also able to start a peer-support program, which we partner with the Marshall Police Department, to support the mental health needs of our own team members.  The Sheriff's Office now has selected team members in all divisions of the office who are trained to be a confidential peer support person.  Since the implementation of this program in March of this year, there have been two very significant incidents that the peer-support team has proven to be a valuable asset to the office.


As your Sheriff, I believe that a multifaceted approach to crisis intervention, allows for staff to respond in an appropriate manner; resulting in a safer resolution for the officer, the patient, and our community.  

I Love to Read Month at Marshall's Parkside Elementary School

Assisting with the mock crash at the
Tracy High School


Each year we take a collection and provide winter gear to headstart
kids in need.

1st Thursday of each month time is volunteered calling bingo at the Adult Community Center

Daycare Day at the Lyon County Fair