Sheriff Pederson retiring

Served Brown

County for 30 years

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- Retiring Brown County Sheriff Larry Pederson said his job has been relatively easy the past few years.

Speaking after about a dozen others at his retirement ceremony Sunday night at the Springfield Community Center, Pederson said he's certain he hired the right people and put them in the right places and those appointments made his job was easier.

Pederson served as Brown County Sheriff for 20 years plus another decade as a deputy.

Sheriff-elect Tim Brennan thanked Pederson for teaching him the art of listening, talking, creating relationships and having patience with people from all walks of life.

"They sent us to classes for community policing, which is how to relate to people, but we didn't really need them because Larry taught me how to do that 30 years ago," Brennan said.

Minnesota State Sheriff's Association Executive Director Jim Trudeau called Pederson a "common sense guy that had a calming effect on people."

New Ulm native and Minnesota State Patrol Major Mike Asleson said Pederson was a great personal and professional friend.

"You served the citizens of Brown County well with compassion, courtesy and professionalism," Asleson said.

Retired State Patrolman Ted Oman praised Pederson for his integrity, cooperation and friendship.

Howard Zins, retired New Ulm Police Chief, thanked Pederson for his good attitude and Ole and Lena jokes. "I think he knew all their jokes, maybe he even wrote them," Zins said. "I have good and bad news for you about retirement. The good news is no more meetings and you can start and stop when you want to. The bad news is realizing you should have retired five years ago."

Brown County Administrator Chuck Enter thanked him for leading his office through many changes in law enforcement.

Brown County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Pat Krenz -- who has survived three heart attacks and had a pacemaker implanted three weeks ago and has 28 years in the office himself -- praised Pederson for being the best boss he ever had.

Businessman Ron Petersen of Sleepy Eye -- who often drinks morning coffee with Pederson in downtown Sleepy Eye -- called him compassionate, caring, strict, honorable, dependable and a friend who made a difference in his life.

"You can live life to the fullest or squander it away," Petersen said. "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that's why we call it a present."

New Ulm Police Chief Erv Weinkauf said he joined the sheriff's office just days apart from Pederson. He talked about things they wish never happened -- car crashes, crib deaths, drownings and homicides. On the positive side were improvements like the Law Enforcement Center, new programs and Pederson becoming president of the Minnesota Sheriff's Association.

"I thoroughly enjoyed our working relationship with your agency and your efforts to create and maintain it," Weinkauf said.

New Ulm attorney Clark Tuttle III said he was amazed at how many people attended the retirement event that were not involved with law enforcement.

"That's a testament to how many friends you made outside of law enforcement," Tuttle said.