Longtime Dakota County Deputy Sheriff Tim Decker was named the county’s new sheriff during Monday’s Board of Commissioners meeting.
The board unanimously approved Decker’s nomination and he assumes the duties left with the retirement in December of longtime Sheriff Chris Kleinberg.
Decker, 53, has been a part of the Dakota County law enforcement team for the last 15 years, coming on board when Kleinberg was first elected as the county sheriff.
“I went to the (Nebraska Law Enforcement) academy with him in 1999 and we graduated that together,” Decker said. “I’ve known Chris a long time and it’s been great working with him. He gave me a lot of leeway when I was chief deputy and I’m sure I’ll lean on him for some stuff now that I’m sheriff.”
Decker helped bring a lot of technology into the sheriff’s office during his deputy days, writing the department’s grants for everything from overtime to purchasing equipment like drones and speed trailers.
“We’ve tried to stay on the cusp of what’s new so we can keep up with the ever-changing world we’re in right now,” Decker told the Star.
Decker comes from a family steeped in law enforcement. His younger brother, Tom, is the Dixon County Sheriff, his uncle was once the Cedar County Sheriff and he has family who has served in a number of local, county and state law enforcement agencies.
Decker intends to run for a full term of the office and will have until later this month to submit his name for the position.
