Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze announced last week that he plans to seek re-election this fall.

Cruze was elected sheriff in November 2014 in a race for an open seat, edging challenger Jon Thoma by 128 votes. The successor of former sheriff Jeff Norlin, Cruze won the sheriff’s race with 50.54 percent of the total vote, encompassing 30 precincts.

“I am excited to formally announce my campaign for re-election as your Sheriff of Meeker County,” Cruze said. “It’s been truly both an honor and privilege to serve the residents of Meeker County these past four years.”

Cruze has worked for the Meeker County Sheriff’s Department for nearly 25 years, including 15 years as a regional narcotics investigator with the Willmar-based CEE-VI Drug Task Force. During his campaign four years ago, he touted his broad experience in law enforcement, having worked with other agencies as part of the drug task force.

Litchfield native Dan Miller is Cruze’s chief deputy.

Cruze’s many stated goals as sheriff have included public outreach and community engagement, which he’s attained through an “open door policy,” along with along with public speaking, presentations and programs such as “Coffee with the Sheriff” that invite community members to share input.

In addition, Cruze said he’s worked to increase public awareness and education about scams, fraud, aquatic invasive species, drug-use indicators and impaired driving.

“By working together we will continue to make this a better and safer community,” Cruze said. “But most importantly, my pledge has been and continues to be leadership with integrity to the office of sheriff.”

Cruze said he’s demonstrated leadership and integrity during “unfortunate circumstances with personnel who had broken the public trust and committed criminal offenses as members of the office – a situation that required an immediate and firm response while maintaining transparency to the public.” This is the type of leadership, he said, that’s expected and required to guarantee mutual trust and respect between the sheriff’s office and the public.

When Cruze took office, he updated the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office mission statement as follows: “To provide high quality professional services with honor, integrity and courage. These services shall preserve the peace and safeguard the lives and property of all Meeker County residents through a proactive partnership with the community and our public safety partners.”

“I remain dedicated to this mission,” Cruze said.