Anoka County board honors corrections staff with resolution for National Correctional Officers Week

The Anoka County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025-49 on a unanimous voice vote Thursday, formally recognizing county correctional staff during National Correctional Officers Week.

The resolution honors the work of detention deputies, correction officers and Community Corrections employees, thanking them for “essential services” and “exceptional performance,” the board said.

Dylan Warkentin, director of community corrections, told the board the department runs sentence-related programs and work release that provide education, substance-use treatment and mental-health engagement. “These are highly trained staff. We do a lot of skill based training, to increase outcomes and to make the place safer internally, but also externally,” Warkentin said.

Sheriff Brad Wise thanked the board for the resolution and acknowledged the difficulty of correctional work. “I—m not doing that hard work,” Wise said. “It—s my role to try to do whatever it is that I can to make their job easier.” He emphasized four pillars for strong law enforcement: positive culture, competitive wages, community support and elected-official backing.

Commissioners who spoke in support noted corrections staff often miss personal events because of shift work and commended training and leadership. Commissioner Meissner said she appreciates “the best practices that have changed over the last 20 years in corrections.” Commissioner Schulte contrasted jail work with patrol duties, saying corrections staff “don—t get those thank yous.” Commissioner Jepsen urged the board to ensure appreciation is felt beyond a single annual proclamation.

Resolution 2025-49 will be observed during the first week of May, the board said. No motion maker was recorded in the transcript; the resolution passed by unanimous voice vote.

The board moved immediately to recognitions for other public-safety observances after the vote.