WHEREAS, on April 19, 2022, County Administration received a report that Sheriff David Hutchinson had been behaving in a hostile and retaliatory manner toward Sheriff’s Office personnel; and

WHEREAS, on April 21, 2022, the Sheriff and Sheriff’s Office command staff were informed that Hennepin County would conduct an investigation into allegations that the Sheriff had violated the County’s Non-Discrimination and Respectful Workplace Policy; and

WHEREAS, the County retained an external, neutral investigator to conduct the investigation, and the investigator conducted interviews of Sheriff’s Office personnel; and

WHEREAS, the investigator also contacted the Sheriff and his personal legal counsel to request that he participate in an interview, but the investigator did not receive any response; and

WHEREAS, the investigator determined that Sheriff Hutchinson engaged in a pattern of harassment and workplace bullying in violation of Hennepin County’s Non-Discrimination and Respectful Workplace Policy, including racist, sexist, harassing, bullying and retaliatory behavior; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners formally censures Sheriff Hutchinson for violating Hennepin County’s Non-Discrimination and Respectful Workplace Policy by engaging in disrespectful behavior toward staff, including harassment and workplace bullying, and by failing to promote a respectful, cooperative work environment.