Ben Hallberg, a 21-year veteran of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, launched his campaign for Sheriff this week. He is highlighting his internal experience and steady leadership as the department transitions leadership.
Hallberg’s announcement follows Sheriff Pat Eliasen’s decision to resign, effective May 8. On March 10, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Hallberg as Interim Sheriff, with his interim tenure beginning immediately after Eliasen steps down. He will serve in this capacity until a successor is elected and sworn in this fall.
Hallberg grew up in Bloomington and graduated from Holy Angels Academy in Richfield. He went on to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, where he met his future wife, Sarah Jorgenson, a fellow Gustie and lifelong Cook County resident. After graduation, with a degree in elementary education and a brief stay in the Twin Cities, the young couple moved to Grand Marais 23 years ago. They live east of Grand Marais and have two children, Andrew, 19, and Hallberg Launches Campaign for Cook County Sheriff; Focuses on Continuity and “Internal Knowledge” Ella, 16.
On trips to Grand Marais with Sarah to visit family, Hallberg was struck by how different it was from city life. Walking down the street, it seemed like everyone they met knew Sarah, and she knew them. That didn’t happen in Bloomington. Grand Marais is its own version of the television show “Cheers,” where everybody knows your name. A quick trip to the hardware store quickly devolves into an hour of conversation. Asked about the perceived election advantage of incumbency he’ll have as Interim Sheriff, Hallberg said, “I hope I can show people that is not the case.”
In his formal announcement, Hallberg wrote, “In 2004, I started my career in law enforcement as a dispatcher/jailer. That work gave me purpose, and I had found my calling. I received my law enforcement degree to be able to work as a Deputy, employed in that role for 10 years. I later moved into the role as jail administrator, dispatch supervisor, and now as the Chief Deputy under our current Sheriff. In over two decades of service, one fact is for sure: it takes years of hard work to understand how each part of our office works together.”
Hallberg is active in the community and is a believer in community policing. During his career, he conducted the DARE program, which he says is geared more toward decision-making skills than the “Just Say No” campaigns of the 1980s.
“That program is a good way to get into the schools and get to know the kids,” Hallberg says. The DARE officer becomes someone the kids know in law enforcement, lowering barriers and reducing hostilities. “Now the kids have someone they know at the sheriff’s office,” he added.
Hallberg said that when he heard current Sheriff Pat Eliasen wasn’t seeking re-election, he decided to run. “During my interview for the dispatcher position 21 years ago, I was asked about my long-term goals,” Hallberg said. His reply included serving as sheriff sometime down the road. “I’ve met every goal since I was hired,” he said.
The sheriff’s office faces several challenges and transitions in the coming months. Hallberg is 100% in favor of implementing body cameras for deputies. He said that the squad cameras in the department’s vehicles don’t always capture the full picture. He’s focusing on providing training for the officers and staff who will download those cameras to record every day. “We’ll get more value with body cams,” he said.
Another challenge the next sheriff will face is employee recruitment and retention. “I would be so happy to get full staffing for this department,” Hallberg says. For several years, the Sheriff’s office has faced this challenge and tried several unique ways to recruit new officers and dispatchers. Hallberg acknowledges that the pool of new law enforcement personnel is significantly smaller than it was when he enrolled in his law enforcement degree program. “Recruiting is our biggest challenge,” he said.
Hallberg cites his experience across all department functions as a major asset. “I lead by example and step in to fill and back up every position,” he said. He added that the Sheriff’s office is a good place to work. The benefits and wages are good. And the quality of life in Cook County is excellent for the right candidates.
Summing up his candidacy, Hallberg wrote in his announcement, “What we need in our next Sheriff is someone who understands where we’ve been and where we’re going. We need experienced leadership that is prepared to take on the challenges that matter most to our community.”
Hallberg will be the Interim Sheriff when current Sheriff Pat Eliason resigns on May 8. The only other announced candidate for the office at this time is Deputy Ty Backlund.
