by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleader.com
The Sartell Police Department now has a new deputy chief, longtime patrol officer Wayne Schreiner.
The deputy chief position is second in command after Police Chief Jim Hughes.
At the May 13 City Council meeting, Hughes introduced Schreiner and current Deputy Chief Dale Struffert, who is going to retire at the end of May. At that time, Schreiner will assume deputy chief duties.
Schreiner has been with the police department for 20 years.
Hughes praised Struffert for his 29 years of service to the police department and to the residents of Sartell. He has been in law enforcement for 34 years, five of them in southeastern Minnesota.
When Struffert joined the Sartell department 29 years ago, there were five police officers compared with the current 21, Hughes noted.
Struffert, Hughes said, was very instrumental in developing the efficiency and safety of the force, including the vital task of installing new equipment into each police vehicle throughout the years. He was “very frugal” in doing so, always seeking the best bargains on equipment or donations, thus saving the city thousands of dollars.
Struffert also started the city’s first canine program and served as training officer for the field-training program.
In the mid-1990s, Struffert was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was named deputy chief in 2004.
Sartell Deputy Chief Dale Struffert (right), soon to retire, pins a badge on new Deputy Chief Wayne Schreiner at the May 13 City Council meeting.
Sartell officer Wayne Schreiner, Sartell’s new deputy chief, stands beside soon-to-retire Deputy Chief Dale Struffert.
