The relationship between local law enforcement and residents of the county is positive, according to the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and the Albert Lea Police Department.

Riots in Ferguson, Baltimore and New York City over alleged police brutality in the last year have called into question the relationship between law enforcement and members of the public, but Freeborn County Sheriff Kurt Freitag said that hasn’t sullied local relations.

“I haven’t seen blowback from the national level,” Freitag said. “I haven’t seen a negative trend in relations.”

Freitag credits officer familiarity with the public as a major

reason, as well as Freeborn County’s relatively small population.

The relationship between the Albert Lea Police Department and the citizens of Albert Lea is solid, but has room for growth, Albert Lea Public Safety Director Dwaine Winkels said.

“I think we have a good relationship, but there’s always room for improvement,” Winkels said. “Complacency will destroy you. Communities change and times change, and you have to change with them.”

There is a percentage of the population that has had bad run-ins with law enforcement elsewhere, or the law enforcement wasn’t as professional as Albert Lea’s is, Winkels said.

A 2008 survey showed a disconnect with what the police were doing and in what the public wanted done. Since then, police have changed their focus to addressing the needs of citizens, he said.

“We’ve done a lot of work in community policing in the last few years,” Winkels said.

“We’ve had a lot of help from citizens. It’s a continual effort. Inclusion is the best solution to the problems facing law enforcement today; everyone needs to be included in the policing process.” He said residents need to speak up if they want to see a change in how policing is done.

Freitag said one of the best ways for a law enforcement agency to maintain trust with the community is through being transparent.

“I want people to know what their sheriff’s office is all about,” he said. “If people have questions on what we are doing, I want them to feel comfortable to ask. We’re here for them. We have a set of rules to follow. We’re going to enforce the law fairly and consistently.”

Freitag expects his deputies to maintain a cool demeanor if faced with an angry person.

“I expect our deputies to have thick skin,” Freitag said. “I expect them to be polite and professional. Keeping your composure so you can perform your duties as you would with anyone else, that’s my expectation.”

He said there are always some individuals in the community who won’t get along with law enforcement.

Freitag said the office relies on a good relationship between the Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of the county so they can operate on a higher level to serve the public.

“When they feel comfortable enough to call us and express their concerns about possible crime or a dangerous condition on a lake and know we are going to do our best for them, that’s the relationship I want to continue to foster,” Freitag said.

Albert Lea resident Maureen Carlson said she has a positive relationship with law enforcement.

“They’ve helped me a lot,” Carlson said. “I live alone, and they’ve helped me when I needed them. I have a lot of respect for law enforcement.”

Freitag said the Sheriff’s Office fulfills many other functions than pro-active patrolling, including mediating neighborhood and property disputes. The department also handles animal issues, goes to all medical calls, car crashes and domestic issues. The office also periodically goes to community events and schools to talk about safety-related topics.

Freitag said the Sheriff’s Office relies on a lot of input from county residents.

“On a professional level, life is a lot more simple when you get along with people,” Freitag said.

He said Facebook has been helpful for the relationship between law enforcement and the county because it helps improve the flow of communication.

Freitag advises anyone with questions, concerns or thoughts to call him at 507-391-0993 or contact dispatch at 377-5200, ext. 5.