Earlier this year, Minnesotans engaged in heated discussion over a redesign of the state flag and seal, eventually enticing a number of counties and municipalities to formally oppose the redesign.
Rice County was among them, citing in its resolution the “substantial public costs” that would come with replacing the many state seals on uniforms and squad cars of the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, and any other changes that might be needed. But that reasoning appears to have been overblown.
During the discussion about the county’s opposition, Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas estimated the changes would cost the county a little under $30,000, not including other departments.
The Ojibwe representative on the State Emblems Redesign Commission, Aaron Wittnebel, noted to the Daily News at the time that the Sheriff’s Office actually wasn’t allowed to have the state seal on their equipment, regardless of the version they use.
He said the ones on the uniforms and squad cars in Rice County were inexact, didn’t match each other and wouldn’t be affected by the redesign. But after looking further into the subject, he found other issues in several counties.
In March, he sent an email to the Governor’s Office and others, wherein he found 17 counties with a Sheriff’s Office using an unauthorized depiction of the state seal. Rice, Steele and Dakota counties were on this list, which he said necessitate change regardless of whether there was a redesign.
As if not complicated enough, the deadline to replace the old seals and flags was extended to Jan. 1, 2025. According to a coinciding statement from the Minnesota Administration Department, sheriff’s office vehicles and badges needed to be switched out.
“While I hope this is a mistake, it probably wasn’t,” Wittnebel said following the statement. “Unfortunately, this order is unlawful for the MDA or the governor to give, as they have no authority to do so. If a law enforcement entity is utilizing the actual Great Seal, old or new, they must cease using it. However, unless the MDA or the governor has a court order, the entity can take a reasonable amount of time to change them out using regular rotation.”
Whether this reason or the “substantial public costs,” Rice County Sheriff’s Office uniforms are getting a new patch that doesn’t feature the seal after all. The new patch features a depiction of the state with a magnified depiction of Rice County, jutting out of the county’s location in the state. At least the last two sheriffs in Rice County changed the department patch.
County Communications Director Suzy Rook said, rather than changing all the seals used by the Sheriff’s Office immediately, the county plans to switch them out using “regular rotation,” like what was suggested by Wittnebel.
That still leaves the courthouse seals, which have until Jan. 1 to be switched out. Rook said the state will cover that cost.
“Costs for replacement flags, seals, etc. in the courthouse are a state expense,” she said. “The Sheriff’s Office plans to replace seals, flags and other items containing the old versions as items/equipment wear out or need replacing, so there will be no additional costs on top of what was already anticipated. The Sheriff’s Office redesigned its patches to remove the old seal and focus on Rice County and its location in Minnesota. So far, one deputy is wearing a uniform with the new patch.”
As Commissioner Galen Malecha pointed out when the resolution passed, it is not within the purview of the county to oppose the flag and seal on non-budgetary grounds as a nonpartisan commission. He could not be reached for clarification Monday.
Most Popular
Comments / 0