Anoka County Welcomes New Patrol and Jail Staff in December Swearing-In Ceremony

ANOKA COUNTY, Minn. -  The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office welcomed a new sergeant and nine newly hired deputies and detention deputies during a swearing-in ceremony on December 3, 2025, in Andover. The event marked the department’s latest effort to maintain staffing and support both patrol and detention operations across northern Anoka County.

Sheriff Brad Wise administered the oaths and emphasized the department’s long-term investment in developing its workforce. “It is my privilege to swear-in and promote the future of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office,” Wise said. “As these members grow in their careers with the office, we look forward to seeing their contributions in growing our established commitment to excellence.”

New Personnel: Patrol and Jail Divisions

The following individuals were recognized:

Promotion

• Sergeant: Chris Yantos - Patrol Division

Patrol Division Deputies

• Riley Rosar
• Ryan Kirchen
• Jesse Haugen
• Tom Gagnon
• Garrett Snyder

Jail Division Detention Deputies

• Brandee Kuechlin
• Owen Beach
• Luis Gonzalez
• Avery Counter

The Patrol Division serves communities that contract directly with the sheriff’s office, providing 911 response, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and community policing. The Jail Division oversees the Anoka County Jail, managing intake, booking, and daily operations within the county’s main detention facility.

Sheriff’s Office Profile and Jail Capacity

According to the county’s official records, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office consists of roughly 300 staff and volunteers and serves 21 municipalities in a county of more than 350,000 residents. The Anoka County Jail is a 238-bed facility, operating under a combination of direct-supervision and remote-supervision housing. It primarily houses individuals who are not yet sentenced and are legally held pending court proceedings.

The agency describes its mission as protecting and serving the community “in a manner that preserves the public trust.”

Facility Needs and County Planning

A county work session in October 2025 summarized findings from a recently completed jail-needs study. The assessment concluded that the current 238-bed jail does not meet the county’s long-term operational needs. The study recommends constructing a new facility with a capacity of 418 beds. County commissioners are reviewing the findings as part of broader planning discussions related to corrections infrastructure.

The additional detention deputies sworn in this month arrive as the county continues weighing those long-term facility needs.

Looking Ahead

The December 3 ceremony represents incremental but meaningful personnel reinforcement at a time when the sheriff’s office is balancing day-to-day public-safety responsibilities with future planning around detention capacity. As newly sworn members transition into their roles, the agency expects their contributions to support core operations, from patrol response to jail management, while larger strategic questions about infrastructure and staffing continue to evolve.

MinneapoliMedia