[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1986]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF SHERBURNE COUNTY SHERIFF BRUCE ANDERSON ON THE OCCASION OF 
                             HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHELE BACHMANN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2009

  Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Bruce 
Anderson, who retires as Sheriff for Sherburne County, Minnesota, on 
Friday, January 30th. As County Board Chairman Arne Engstrom has said, 
Bruce Anderson ``raised the bar so high for sheriffs in our state.''
  Bruce Anderson, raised in Elk River, Minnesota, first started with 
the Sheriff's Office in 1975, when he forfeited a football scholarship 
to the University of Minnesota to take a job as a dispatcher-jailer 
with Sherburne County. He was just 19 years old, but he knew he wanted 
a career serving his community in law enforcement.
  Fourteen years ago, he took his experience with the office to a new 
level when he was elected to serve as the County's Sheriff. His 
professionalism and dedication earned him re-election three more times, 
without any opposition. When he told the County Board that he would be 
retiring, his announcement was marked with the same humility and 
commitment that Sherburne residents have come to expect of his service. 
In fact, he thanked the Board for their support, thanked the citizens 
for the privilege to serve them, and thanked his staff--calling them 
``unsung heroes.''
  Bruce Anderson's tenure as Sheriff was marked by a number of enormous 
advances in the Office's operations. He oversaw an expansion of the 
County jail and worked out an arrangement to house federal inmates 
there as well. He brought extraordinary technological advances, 
including updating their radio system to digital to better enable 
Sherburne sheriffs to communicate with neighboring jurisdictions. And, 
he solved some real mysteries and crimes, including a high-profile 1992 
murder.
  Bruce's successor will be Captain Joel Brott, who has served in 
Sherburne County law enforcement for 12 years. Captain Brott has said 
that he considers Sheriff Anderson a mentor and with such tutelage, 
Sherburne is sure to be in good hands.
  In the meantime, we look forward to seeing what next wonderful 
adventure in public service awaits Bruce Anderson. Sherburne County 
Commissioner Felix Schmiesing called Anderson's retirement ``the end of 
an era'' but I believe it is the start of a wonderful new chapter both 
for Bruce Anderson and for the people of Sherburne County, who I am 
certain he will continue to serve in some new way.

                          ____________________