Fifteen members of the Waseca County Sheriff's Mounted Posse hosted representatives from many other posses around the state Saturday, March 18. Among those in attendance were former and current sheriff's department officers, their families, and volunteers “who just want to help out their community.”
Posses gather from around the state
‘We come whenever they need us’
‘We come whenever they need us’
Thu, 03/30/2023 - 8:11pm
After 15 years, the Waseca County Sheriff’s Posse was the host of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Mounted Posse Association’s convention, which took place at the Mill on Saturday, March 18.
The state convention brings around 250 people from throughout Minnesota to its event. Every year, one of the state’s 87 counties with a sheriff’s posse gets a chance to host.
“We usually get people throughout the state to come,” posse member Ken Borgmann said.
For those who may not know who the Waseca County Sheriff's Posse are, or what they do, Member Troy Keane explained. “We are the ones that usually get called by the sheriffs to help out whenever they need us.”
Most of the help they provide can range from finding leads on stolen vehicles or missing persons. “We’re on standby to round up the members and help the sheriffs with whatever they need help getting done,” Keane elaborated.
Posse members include current members of the Waseca County Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff Jay Dulas and Chief Deputy Doug Gerdts among them), past sheriffs and deputies, former law enforcement, and those who want to help keep their communities safe.
“Some families have members spanning generations,” Keane shared. “My kids are part of the posse.”
The Waseca County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse was happy to report representation from sheriff offices as far north as Crow Wing County (which includes Brainerd). “We even have a former posse member who moved to Kentucky attending this event,” Borgmann said.
Local Waseca royalty — Miss South Central Jasmin Kotek and Miss Southern MN Outstanding teen Kloe Wadd — were also attendees and volunteers at the event.
There are always plenty of activities to do at the meetings. Infinity Catering of Janesville provided a dinner for the afternoon; throughout the day there were meat raffles, silent and live auctions, scholarship awards, and more.
One award recipient was Dave Lienke. Lienke was acknowledged as the longest-serving posse member. He joined in 1976, and so has been serving for more than 47 years. “It’s been an honor being with the posse for that long,” he said.
All in all, it was a great time that provided sheriff posse members and their families from across the state a chance to socialize and catch up.
“It’s always a lot of fun,” posse member Troy Keane said. “We have a good time at these conventions. ”
The funds raised at the convention will go toward scholarships for students.