"A PERSON OF INTEGRITY AND COURAGE"
I’m writing to encourage Beltrami County voters to re-elect Sheriff Phil Hodapp. I have known Phil since he came to work for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) in the mid-1980’s and worked very closely with him for the seventeen years I served in the BCA’s Bemidji Office. During that time I came to see him as a person of integrity and courage. His work ethic and sense of responsibility have always been very high level.
It’s been a pleasure, but not a surprise, to see Phil develop in his role as sheriff during his first term. Because I still live in the community, I continue to have many contacts with local police officers and, of course, a host of non-law-enforcement friends. During the past four years I have not heard a negative comment about Hodapp from any of these sources. I have had people tell me that they were impressed or pleased with the way they were treated in an encounter with him. His friendly, outgoing demeanor and his kindly attitude toward people in general make him very approachable and inclined to take the time to listen to even small concerns.
I’ve known and worked with many, many sheriffs over the years and would rank Phil Hodapp as one of the finest I’ve been privileged to know. In my view, Beltrami County has been fortunate to have him in place for the past four years and voters should jump at the chance to keep him for another term.
Sincerely,
Terry Smith
Special Agent in Charge (Retired)
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension