(KNSI) – St. Cloud native and Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott is hanging up his hat and won’t seek reelection.
Brott revealed this week that he will not pursue a fifth term, bringing his 18-year tenure to a close. The 1990 Apollo High School graduate has served the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office since 1996. Throughout his career, he has held multiple positions, including patrol deputy, investigator, investigative sergeant, and captain, before being elected sheriff.
Brott earned his law enforcement degree from Alexandria Technical College in 1992. In his most recent election in 2022, he ran unopposed and received 99.08% of the votes cast.
In his retirement statement, Brott expressed confidence in the department’s current state despite ongoing challenges facing law enforcement professionals.
In a press release, he credited the organization’s success to its workforce of over 325 employees, praising their exceptional performance, teamwork, and dedication through both challenging situations and achievements.
Brott has publicly endorsed Commander Ben Zawacki as his successor. Zawacki brings 20 years of experience with the sheriff’s office and over 25 years in law enforcement overall.
This announcement follows Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck’s decision last week to also forgo reelection.
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