S.D. law enforcement board unanimously reaffirms decision to revoke sheriff's license after sexual

[TexasTowelie]

S.D. law enforcement board unanimously reaffirms decision to revoke sheriff's license after sexual harassment allegations surface


PIERRE, S.D. — After their original decision was questioned by a judge, a South Dakota law enforcement oversight board has again unanimously decided to revoke the certification of a sheriff who has been accused of seven instances of workplace sexual harassment.

The state Law Enforcement Officers Standards And Training Commission on Thursday, Sept. 5, met to consider alternative sanctions for Marshall County Sheriff Dale Elsen, who has admitted to the seven accusations.

The commission in December unanimously voted to revoke Elsen's law enforcement certification in light of the accusations, but Elsen appealed to the state's Fifth Judicial Circuit. Judge Tony Porta decided in April that the commission had not considered alternative sanctions for Elsen, such as a license suspension or a probationary period, and kicked the case back to the commission, ordering them to examine alternatives.

After hours of testimony and executive session discussion, the commission came to the same unanimous conclusion to revoke Elsen's license. Suspension would ultimately place too much of a burden on lower level officers who would have to shoulder Elsen's responsibilities while suspended, they said. The state doesn't have enough resources to oversee a sheriff's probation. Elsen has already undergone sexual harassment training twice now, and at least one of the allegations took place after his first training.

Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/4647664-S.D.-law-enforcement-board-unanimously-reaffirms-decision-to-revoke-sheriffs-license-after-sexual-harassment-allegations-surface