Officer Biographies

Fairmont has a dedicated and well trained group of individuals serving the community. We are proud to have each of these individuals as part of our team.

Full Time Officers

Chief Greg Brolsma

Chief Brolsma grew up in Dunnell, Minnesota. He graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a B.A. in Sociology. He obtained his Law Enforcement certification through Moorhead State University and Alexandria Technical College. He worked 6 months as a jailer for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Fairmont Police Department in January of 1986. He served as a Patrolman, Sergeant and Lieutenant before being appointed as Chief in 2001. He is a 2003 graduate of the MN Chief's of Police CLEO & Command Academy. He currently serves on several boards and committees which tie law enforcement to the community. They include Fairmont Area Kinship, Fairmont Healthy Youth Committee, Services for Challenging Youth Board, Fairmont Early Childhood Initiative and the Fairmont Medical Center Board. Email: gbrolsma@fairmont.org

Lieutenant Del Ellis

Lieutenant Ellis began working for the Fairmont Police Department in 1994. Lieutenant Ellis has worked toward department goals in various capacities on and off duty and is proud to be part of such a noble profession. Our vocation is rewarding. Email: dellis@fairmont.org

Detective Eric Tonder

Detective Tonder was hired as a Patrol Officer with the Fairmont Police Department in 1997. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2000 and in 2003 promoted to his current position of Detective. Detective Tonder has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and has received training in several specialties some of which include; High Tech Criminal Forensic Computer Investigations, Seized Computer Evidence Recovery, Advanced Latent Prints, Crime Scene Evaluation and Processing, Death Scene Investigation, Internal Affairs Investigations, Advanced Interview and Interrogation, Advanced Statement Analysis and Child Abuse Forensic Interviewing. Detective Tonder supervises Fairmont’s Predatory Offender Registration Compliance and has served as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) since 2001. Email: etonder@fairmont.org

Detective Corey Klanderud

Detective Klanderud was hired and moved to Fairmont in January of 1997. The day he started his career in Fairmont he was assigned to the Minnesota River Drug Task Force as an undercover agent. He completed that assignment and moved to Patrol Officer. While working as a patrol officer, he served a year on the regional Emergency Response Unit (HEAT), helped with the Triad program and started assisting with the technology transition in the department. He was promoted to Patrol Sergeant and during that time helped develop our Top 10 Most Wanted list on our website. He took an assignment as the School Resource Officer for 2 years working with the youth and our local Explorers program. At the end of 2003, he took a position in the Detective’s office where he is today. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement and a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice. Email: cklanderud@fairmont.org

Sergeant Kevin Kelly

Sergeant Kelly lived in rural Lake Crystal until he graduated High School. He moved to Mankato where he managed a Service Station for 8 years. He then moved to California for two years where his interest in law enforcement peaked and he returned to Minnesota to start his college education. He received a A.A. degree in Law Enforcement, a B.S. Degree in Public Administration with a Speak Communications Minor. He worked for several agencies while attending college to gain experience before becoming full-time. He was hired by the Fairmont Police Department in 1993 and moved into the D.A.R.E. Officer Position shortly after, he was then promoted to Sergeant. He is certified in a number of different areas, serves on a number of different committees within the department. He has volunteered his time with a number of community organizations and spends time at home with his wife and children. Email: Kkelly@fairmont.org

Sergeant Michael Hunter

Sergeant Hunter is a native of St Paul Minnesota. He attended Rosemount Senior High School and holds a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of St Thomas. Sergeant Hunter came to Fairmont in 1998 after serving in various law enforcement capacities since 1993 with the cities of Madelia, Burnsville and Minneapolis Police Departments. In Fairmont he has served as a Patrol Officer, DARE Officer, School Resource Officer and Drug Interdiction Resource Team Member. He is currently a Patrol Supervisor and Training Coordinator for the Fairmont Police Department. He is also assigned as an Entry Team Leader on the regional Emergency Response Unit (HEAT), Field Training Officer and FTO Program Supervisor, and Pre-employment Background Investigator. Email: mhunter@fairmont.org

Sergeant James Kotewa

Sergeant Kotewa is a native of Fairmont. He attended Fairmont High School and holds a Bachelors Degree in law enforcement from Mankato State University. Sergeant Kotewa became a full-time Patrol Officer in 1997 after having worked part-time as a Bike Patrol Officer, Patrolman, and Animal Control Officer . He also worked as a part-time patrolman in Truman and for the Sherburn/Welcome Police Department. In Fairmont he has served as a Narcotic Agent assigned to the Drug Task Force from 1998 to 2000. He was promoted to Detective in 2000 became a Sergeant in 2003. He is currently assigned as the Supervisor for the Drug Interdiction Resource Team. He is a Pre-employment Background Investigator and has been trained in Advanced Latent Prints, Crime Scene Evaluation and Processing, Death Scene Investigation, Advanced Interview and Interrogation, and Child Abuse Forensic Interviewing. Sergeant Kotewa is also a United States Department of Justice certified Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratory Technician and Clandestine Laboratory site safety officer. Email; jkotewa@fairmont.org

Sergeant Lowell Spee

Sergeant Spee is a life long member of this community, along with his wife and his 3 children. He along with his family has been involved with the 4-H, church youth activities, chaperoning school and church activities as well as being involved in the Police Explorer program sponsored by the Fairmont Police Department in the past. Sergeant Spee began his Law Enforcement career in 1977 as a licensed Part-time officer with the Minnesota Lake Police Department and has worked for several other police departments and sheriff offices. In 1993 he went to college to get his degree in Law Enforcement, and was licensed as a full-time officer in 1995. He was hired as a full-time Police Officer in December of 1996 by the Fairmont Police Department. He became a Patrol Sergeant with the department in June of 2006. His duties include involvement with the Crime Prevention Committee, City of Fairmont and the Fairmont Police Department’s Safety Committee, Uniform Committee, and management of the department’s fleet of squad cars. Email: lspee@fairmont.org

Officer Eugene Austin

Officer Austin and his family are lifetime residents of the Fairmont area. He attended Fairmont Schools and graduated in 1972. Officer Austin attended college at Prairie Lake Extended Campus and then Mankato State. He then attended Hibbing Community College to complete the eight-week skills portion of his law enfrocement training. Upon graduation, he worked 2 years with the Truman Police Department before being hired in Fairmont in 1990. In addition to patrol, some of Officer Austin's additional duties include being the Firearms Instructor for Fairmont and surrounding agencies. He coordinates the required firearms qualification courses for all Officers and Deputies in Martin County. He is also a member of the regional Emergency Response Unit (HEAT). Email: eaustin@fairmont.org

Officer Brad Buhmann

Officer Buhmann is a native of Fairmont Minnesota. He graduated from Fairmont Senior High School and later attended Mankato State University where he obtained a degree in Criminal Justice. He then attended Hibbing Technical College and completed the state skills program. He has had previous law enforcement experience with the City of Truman Police Department. Officer Buhmann has been with the Fairmont Police Department since 1992. He was a former K-9 Officer with this partner Daegan for five years and has also served as a Crime Prevention Officer. He is a Certified Gunsmith currently assigned as the Firearms Armorer for the department specializing in Glock handguns, Remington shotguns, and Colt rifles. Email: bbuhmann@fairmont.org

Officer Dave Runge

Officer Runge grew up in Mankato, MN and graduated from Mankato East High School in 1985. He attended Vermilion Community College and received an AAS degree in Water Resources. He continued his education at UW-Stevens Point where he received BS degrees in Fisheries Management and Aquatic Biology. After holding a few odd jobs such as a Fisheries Biologist and Hazardous Waste Chemist he decided to go back to college at Mankato State University. Dave received his BS in Law Enforcement in 1996 and was hired by the City of Fairmont in January 1997 after working a couple of months part-time for Amboy/Vernon Center and Good Thunder. During his tour in Fairmont he has served as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, a Uniform and Equipment Committee Member and Crime Prevention Officer. He is currently assisting on this website design and upkeep. Email: drunge@fairmont.org

Officer Bryan Boltjes

Officer Boltjes grew up in Worthington, Minnesota. He attended Range Technical College in Hibbing where he obtained his AAS degree in Law Enforcement. In 1995 he started his Law Enforcement career with the Ivanhoe Police Department and has also had experience with the cities of Lake Benton and Lakefield Police Departments. In 1996 he began working for the Jackson Police Department. While with Jackson, Officer Boltjes was assigned to the regional Emergency Response Unit (HEAT) and served as the department’s canine handler. In 2001, Officer Boltjes began working for the Fairmont Police Department. He has served on the regional Emergency Response Unit (HEAT), the local Drug Interdiction Resource Team (DIRT), Uniform and Equipment Committee, and the Justice Council. He is currently assigned to patrol as a Canine Officer along with his partner Diego. Email: bboltjes@fairmont.org

Officer Shannon Bass

Officer Bass has been a patrol officer with the Fairmont Police Department since 2001. He was born and raised in Worthington, MN. He attended college at Worthington Community College and then attended Alexandria Technical College where he received his degree in Law Enforcement. Officer Bass started his law enforcement career with the Nobles County Sheriff’s Office where he was employed as a Correctional Officer for one year. He was then hired by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office in 1997 and was employed there as a Deputy Sheriff for four years. Officer Bass has several years of previous experience with the regional Emergency Response Unit (HEAT). He is currently involved with the crime prevention program and maintains the criminal warrant/Most Wanted list for the Fairmont Police Department. Email: sbass@fairmont.org

School Resource Officer Jaime Bleess

Officer Bleess was hired as a Patrol Officer with the Fairmont Police Department in 2003. Officer Bleess graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, in 1998 with his Bachelor of Arts Degree. Officer Bleess then worked as the Director of Youth and Family Ministry at a church in Red Wing, MN for 5 years. During that time he completed his law enforcement training at RCTC in Rochester, MN. Officer Bleess has been serving as the School Resource Officer for Fairmont Area Schools since 2004. Email: jbleess@fairmont.org

Officer James Tietje

Officer Tietje grew up in the rural Fairmont area. After high school, James attended Alexandria Technical College and received his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Law Enforcement. After graduating from college in the spring of 2002, he started his law enforcement career working bicycle patrol for the City of Fairmont. While working bicycle patrol for Fairmont he was hired as a part-time officer for the City of Truman. After approximately one year in Truman, James was hired for the City of Fairmont. He has been with the Fairmont Police Department since December 2003. James is the Safe and Sober Coordinator for the Fairmont Police Department and is also a member of the Drug Interdiction Resource Team. Email: jtietje@fairmont.org

Officer Chad Sanow

Officer Sanow graduated from High School in Jasper, Minnesota in 1993. After graduation he went to college at Willmar Community College where he received a degree in Criminal Justice. He then went to Alexandria Technical College for the Law Enforcement Skills program. After graduating from college he received his first part-time law enforcement job with Tyler Police Department. A short time later Officer Sanow became employed part-time with other agencies including Balaton Police Department, Marshall Police Department, Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, and Minneota Police Department. Most of his work was with the Marshall Police Department and Lyon County Sheriff’s Department. In October 1997 Officer Sanow began working full time with the Watonwan County Sheriff’s Department. He was given the opportunity to become a K-9 Handler in 1999 after raising the money to begin the program. In April 2004, He was hired full time for the Fairmont Police Department along with his K-9 partner “Chase”. Officer Sanow’s duties for the Fairmont Police Department include being a K-9 Handler, Narcotics Resource Officer, and a member of the Drug Interdiction Resource Team. Email: csanow@fairmont.org

Officer Craig Fowler

Officer Fowler has been serving Fairmont since October 2004. He is originally from the Fairmont area and graduated from the Fairmont High School in 2001. He attended Alexandria Technical College in Alexandria where he obtained his AAS Degree in Law Enforcement in 2003. He has worked for the cities of Trimont and Truman before coming to work for the Fairmont PD in October 2004 as the Animal Control Code Enforcement Officer. In May 2007 he was promoted to patrol officer and helps coordinate the Citizens On Patrol (COP) program. Email: cfowler@fairmont.org

Officer Dustin Schwebke

Officer Schwebke grew up in Colorado and moved to Fairmont in 1995. He graduated from Fairmont High School in 2000. Dustin attended South Central Technical College in Mankato in the Paramedic program. After graduating from SCTC he became interested in a career in law enforcement. He then attended Riverland Community Technical College in Austin, MN and graduated with an AAS degree in law enforcement. He completed the skills course in Hibbing and was hired as the Animal Control Officer in Fairmont in August, 2007. Please call or email Dustin with any of your questions or concerns when it comes to wild or domestic animals. Email: dschwebke@fairmont.org

Part Time Officers

Officer Matt Owens

Officer Matthew Owens is a part time officer who has worked for Fairmont since January 2005. Officer Owens also works full time for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. He grew up in the Truman area. After graduating from high school he attended Alexandria Technical College for Law Enforcement. He now lives in rural Fairmont with his family. Email; mowens@fairmont.org

Officer Justin Jobe

Officer Jobe has been serving part time with the Fairmont Police Department since early 2006. He is also the Chief of Police for the Truman Police Department. Justin moved to the Fairmont area from central Missouri where he was a police officer for five years with the Mexico Public Safety Department. He has been in law enforcement since 1999. Justin’s specialties include firearms instruction and advanced crash scene investigation. Email: jjobe@fairmont.org

Officer Jeff Markquart

Officer Markquart is a part-time patrol officer for the Fairmont Police Department. He is a life long resident of Dunnell, Minnesota, where he currently operates a family farm. Officer Markquart graduated from Sherburn High School and recently attended Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington Minnesota where he obtained his degree in Criminal Justice. Officer Markquart is also a part-time Deputy Sheriff for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Email: jmarkquart@fairmont.org

Officer Will Murray

Officer Murray grew up in Watertown, MN and graduated from Watertown-Mayer High School in 1993. He attended the University of Minnesota-College of Natural Resources and Inver Hills Community College. Officer Murray received a BS Degree in Natural Resources and an AAS Degree in Law Enforcement. He attended the Law Enforcement Skills Program through the Center for Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement and graduated in 2001. Officer Murray began his career in June 2001 with the Mound, MN Police Department. There he served as a Patrol Officer, a Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor, a Tactical Team Leader for the Emergency Response Team (ERT), a Triad Officer and a Field Training Officer. In November 2007 Officer Murray and his wife relocated to southern MN and he currently works part time for the FPD as a Patrolman. Email: wmurray@fairmont.org

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