Beltrami County Sheriff Ernie Beitel announced his plans for retirement and decision not to run for re-election this year.
Beitel has worked in law enforcement for 38 years, initially running unopposed in 2018 when Sheriff Phil Hodapp announced his retirement.
“I want to thank all of the men and women of the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work, determination and steadfast dedication to being the professionals they truly are,” wrote Beitel.
“These past few years have been truly difficult for anyone working in law enforcement and I am truly humbled to have worked with all of these individuals.”
Hubbard County narcotics investigator Bidal Duran, formerly a Bemidji Police patrol officer, announced his decision to run for Beltrami Sheriff this year.
Duran is a Marine Corps veteran who is working on his Ph.D. in Public Management and Leadership from Walden University, already holding two degrees in criminal justice, the bachelor’s from Bemidji State and the master’s degree from Concordia-St. Paul.
