Gerdts adjusting to new role

In the middle of January, Waseca County Sheriff Jay Dulas announced Doug Gerdts as his chief deputy. Gerdts officially took the position January 28.

After more than two decades with the sheriff department, he is more than equipped to take on the role. At the same time, however, he admitted it is quite a transition for him.

“I worked the late-night ‘power shift’ the last 15 years,” he said. “I was used to the evening calls and the dark when our office was closed for business. It was a big transition going from that shift to this. I was out and about dealing with what the usual deputy deals with. Now, I seldom leave the office since there’s a lot to do here.”

Originally from Freedom Township, Gerdts reminisced about growing up in the Waldorf-Pemberton school district with a Janesville phone number and a Waseca address.

After graduating from Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton in 1996, he earned his bachelor's degree in law enforcement in 2000. From there, he went straight to the Waseca County Sheriff’s Department, where he started out as a jailer for two years. He was promoted to a patrol deputy and remained in the position for some time prior to being selected as the chief deputy.

“It’s the only law enforcement job I’ve worked,” he said.

Gerdts explained his new role as chief deputy as “a lot of office management.” Some of the things he needs to take care of in his position include managing the fleet of vehicles in the sheriff’s department, taking charge of evidence collected, handling forfeited vehicles, and scheduling training for employees.

“Along with Dulas, we’re currently the people that the staff go to since we currently don’t have a sergeant,” Gerdts explained.

In his new position, he has learned some procedures that he’s never had to handle before. “I’ve learned how to deal with forfeited vehicles, outfitting new squad cars with new equipment to replace old cars, and learning the back end of managing evidence,” Gerdts said. “The evidence handling is similar to what you see in cop TV shows. There’s a back area and everything.”

What’s changed the most, however, is the shift of responsibility. “Before, I was mostly responsible for myself,” he elaborated. “I was mostly making sure I was complying with policies. Now, part of my job is ensuring all employees are doing what they’re supposed to do. I am now the one they go to for questions and guidance.”

As a 23-year member of the sheriff’s department, he said that there are still some things he is learning on the job. “It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in law enforcement. You deal with an emergency with your instincts. But sometimes, you have to step back and look at the big picture. Maybe you have to look into past case law or make a call to an expert to manage the situation and finish out the incident.”

Gerdts takes great pride in the quality of service that Waseca has provided to the public. His biggest goal as chief deputy is to continue maintaining that. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with administrators who support the partnerships we have with the residents of the county,” he added.

While Gerdts has not seen much unrest in Waseca County, he was interviewed by the Star Tribune two years ago for a story headlined, “In rural Minnesota, where cops and community are familiar, Derek Chauvin trial looks different.” The article explored how the Derek Chauvin trial affected rural communities. Gerdts was quoted in the article saying, “Anonymity breeds mistrust. In small towns, recognition breeds mutual respect.”

He was a witness to that first-hand during a protest in Owatonna in the thick of the riots following the death of George Floyd. The Waseca County Sheriff Department was called in to help barricade and protect the law enforcement service center located in the city.

“We weren’t supposed to let anyone around the barricades,” he explained. “A woman who was African American walked into the barricade area. I told her, ‘Sorry, but I can’t let you go through.’ She insisted she had to do something for us.”

Gerdts wasn’t sure what he expected. What she did, though, was hug every single officer protecting the barricade.

“We were getting yelled at and had pop and water bottles thrown at us,” Gerdts said. “But to have somebody who was very well aware of the racial tension that was taking place nationwide give us all a hug…it recharged the battery for us. It reminded us we are here for everybody, and not everybody hates us. It made dealing with the protests easier, because you knew people still supported us.”

At the same time, it seems like all over the nation, retirements and resignations of police officers are at an all-time high. “We’re feeling it everywhere,” Gerdts said. “We’re being told that there aren’t enough students in law enforcement programs in colleges to fill our current vacancies.”

The average retirement age throughout Minnesota for officers in law enforcement is currently 55. “I can retire in ten years, but we might not have enough officers at that time,” he admitted.

Whatever comes Gerdts’ way during his time as chief deputy, what he’s experienced out on patrol and in his first month in his new position will have him ready to take on just about anything. And if he doesn’t know the answer, he’ll know where to get it.

“I love what I’m doing,” he concluded. “Waseca County has been my home all my life. I want to become an expert at my job and continue helping our employees to be better at what they do and be confident in their abilities. I want to encourage them to be leaders in our community. That is a main goal of mine as chief deputy.”