Allegations Of Nepotism Embroil Chisago County Sheriff's Department
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The former second-in-command of a Minnesota sheriff's department says he was forced to resign for questioning his boss. He says he had concerns when Chisago County Sheriff Rick Duncan hired his son as a deputy.
Former Chief Deputy Chad Worden sat down with WCCO's Reg Chapman Wednesday night to talk about his concerns and the ultimatum he says the sheriff gave him.
"It's devastating to me both personally and professionally," Worden said.
For the past five years, Chad Worden has served the people of Chisago County as Chief Deputy. Now, he is unemployed. He says it's because of a disagreement he had with his boss and friend of 10 years, Sheriff Rick Duncan.
"The sheriff had approached myself and the rest of the command staff and said that he wanted to hire his son for the positon of deputy sheriff," Worden said.
Worden says Duncan hiring his son violates department and county policies.
"The county policy that was violated, in this case, states that relatives -- as defined in the front portion of the policy -- are not to be hired into the agency where they are in the line of supervision," he said.
Worden says bringing the matter to Duncan's attention not only ended their 10 year friendship, it cost him his job.
"The sheriff told me I had two choices," Worden said. "Those choices were either to be fired or to resign my position."
He resigned Jan. 4, it was effective Monday.
Worden was at tonight's County Board meeting when they voted in his replacement -- a move he says shows him the true culture inside the sheriff's department.
"If you have the courage to stand up and exercise your voice, there very well could be retributions that are negative, as a result of that," he said.
Worden says he is weighing his options as to what his next move will be.
"My options, right now, are to speak with my counsel and make the best decision based on the information that's provided to me at this time," he said.
Sheriff Duncan was not at Wednesday night's meeting. County commissioners have not received any official complaint from anyone about the sheriff's department.
