(KNSI) – Stearns County Sheriff Steve Soyka has announced a campaign for re-election, seeking a third term as the county’s top law enforcement officer.
Soyka outlined three priorities for another term: leadership development through advanced training for department personnel, expanded use of technology, and overseeing operations at the county’s new jail facility once it opens.
“Public safety is constantly evolving,” Soyka said, citing drug trafficking and changing response strategies as ongoing challenges. He also emphasized continued partnerships with community organizations, local businesses, and government entities.
The sheriff highlighted several initiatives from his time in office, including an expanded School Resource Officer program and adoption of the National Sheriffs’ Association IGNITE program, which works with inmates inside the county jail to support successful re-entry into society. The department also launched an In-Custody Competency program during his tenure.
The department has shifted how it handles mental health-related calls by introducing a co-responder model that pairs law enforcement with behavioral health professionals and placing a mental health crisis worker directly within the dispatch center. The agency also modernized its dispatch and records systems.
Soyka has served with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office for more than 30 years. The election is scheduled for November 2026.
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