WALKER — Current Cass County Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Thompson announced Friday, April 29, he intends to file for candidacy and seek election as Cass County sheriff in this year’s general election.
Thompson’s announcement follows the recent news Sheriff Tom Burch will not seek re-election.
Thompson, who has been with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office for 25 years, is currently assigned as the Cass County jail administrator. He has experience working in numerous departments within the sheriff’s office including as a corrections officer, dispatcher, boat and water deputy, patrol deputy and SWAT team leader. Thompson was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant in 2016 to serve as the jail administrator.
Thompson earned an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Hibbing Community College and is licensed by the Minnesota POST Board. He has instructed police-related subjects including use of force, firearms, defensive tactics and active shooter for over 20 years for both in-service officers and law enforcement cadets.
Thompson spent the last eight years studying leadership development and during that time, he graduated from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Supervision and Management series and Senior Management series, as well as the Institute for Credible Leadership Development program offered through the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association.
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“Being elected the Cass County Sheriff has been my goal since the beginning of my career,” Thompson stated in a news release. “I have been extremely fortunate to have worked for sheriffs that believed in me and invested in my future. Over the past 25 years they allowed and provided for my extensive training and experience. In doing so they have been preparing me for the road ahead and assisting me in achieving my goal of becoming sheriff.”
Thompson also pointed out the faith Burch placed in him when he promoted Thompson to his command staff as a lieutenant and by assigning him as jail administrator. Thompson noted as jail administrator, he is responsible for what the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association considered a sheriff’s office’s biggest liability.
“I am well qualified for, and welcome the challenges of, being the next Sheriff and I look forward to leading the dedicated staff of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office into the future,” Thompson said. “When elected Sheriff I pledge to you the following: I will work tirelessly to continue our outstanding service to the residents of Cass County and those who visit our corner of ‘God’s Country,’ while maintaining a healthy and supportive workplace environment. I will be a responsible fiscal agent by providing outstanding public service while minding the budgets. And finally, I will continue to work collaboratively with all agencies, leaders, government entities and public organizations to continue, and improve, our role in today’s ever-evolving criminal justice system and our public’s health and safety. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the coming months on my quest in becoming your next Sheriff.”
Thompson is a lifelong resident of Cass County and a 1994 graduate from Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School. He lives in Walker, where he and his wife Katie raised their son and two daughters.
