Sheriff's wife at center of misconduct investigation rehired to new position

Investigation conclusion leaves county officials with more questions than answers

The wife of the Brown County sheriff has been cleared to return to work in the county jail after an investigation into her on-the-job conduct reached its conclusion within the last month.

That’s according to personnel records obtained by The Dakota Scout, which show that Mary Jane Lunzman has been hired into a new position as a part-time detention officer at the jail her husband, Sheriff Dave Lunzman, oversees.

In December, county officials obtained outside counsel to conduct an inquiry into Lunzman after she performed a blood draw on a DUI suspect without obtaining a required warrant. The incident inflamed tensions among officials in Aberdeen, prompting Police Chief Dave McNeil to send a letter to the sheriff raising concerns that his wife’s conduct had the potential to undermine the integrity of law enforcement investigations.

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