MINOT, N.D. (AP) - Ward County commissioners are planning to ask North Dakota’s new governor to dismiss the former governor’s removal proceedings against the local sheriff.
The commission voted Tuesday to write a letter to Gov. Doug Burgum asking him to drop the action to remove Sheriff Steve Kukowski, the Minot Daily News (https://bit.ly/2hQbDXe ) reported.
Former Gov. Jack Dalrymple initiated removal proceedings after a special prosecutor handling misdemeanor charges against Kukowski petitioned the action last March. Dalrymple suspended Kukowski in June, pending a removal hearing that has been delayed until the criminal case is decided.
Kukowski faces three misdemeanor charges related to an October 2014 incident in which an ill jail inmate died after being transported to a law enforcement agency in Bismarck. The charges include reckless endangerment and failing to perform his public duty.
Ward County Commissioner Alan Walter said the charges against Kukowski are not felonies that would require removal.
A trial in August had been postponed to Jan. 3, but was delayed again after Kukowski’s defense asked for more time. The trial is expected to be rescheduled later this month.
Commissioner John Fjeldahl cast the only vote against the motion that calls for the action to remove the sheriff to be dropped. He said he’s hesitant to inject the commission into the removal process.
However, he said he does support asking the governor to lift Kukowski’s suspension while the proceedings continue so the sheriff can return to work.
The commission has adopted Fjeldahl’s separate motion to lift the suspension in the letter to the governor if the dismissal is not possible.
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Information from: Minot Daily News, https://www.minotdailynews.com
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