Harig to assign deputy to drug unit
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 7, 2003
New Freeborn County Sheriff Mark Harig was sworn in Monday, replacing 20-year office holder Don Nolander.
Harig, issued a certificate along with other officials elected in 2002 by County Auditor Dennis Distad at the courthouse, said he would undertake his campaign pledge to strengthen the drug investigation.
&uot;I am getting ready for a lot of planning,&uot; Harig said. &uot;But, first I’ve got to catch up with what’s been happening in the last month or two, so I’m aware of what they are working on now.&uot;
Harig won the election by focusing on the community’s need to deal with increasing drug-related crimes.
He was in the South Central Drug Investigative Unit from 1992 to 2001, participating in a number of major drug busts in the five-county Southern Minnesota area.
The sheriff’s office has not filled Harig’s spot on the the task force since he left the department in 2001. Harig intends to assign one deputy to that position, after attending a meeting in Owatonna Tuesday, he said.
Being a narcotics detective, he spent most of his time on the task force investigations, including undercover drug-buy assignments. Wearing a uniform is something he has not done quite a long time.
Harig will also have to make some organizational adjustment, due to the retirement of veteran Supervisor/Investigator Terry Cochran in February.
&uot;It’s good to be back, after a whole year of not being on duty,&uot; Harig said.