Freeborn County Sheriff Kurt Freitag will run for a second term next year.

Freitag, 51, cited an increase in court security, law enforcement training and per diem increases in holding ICE inmates as positive developments during his first term as sheriff.

“There’s more to be done,” he said.

Freitag said if re-elected, he hopes to continue to move the Sheriff’s Office in a progressive direction.

Freitag said after he was elected, he created a court security team that focuses on protecting the county’s courtrooms from violence. Licensed deputies are on the judicial floor of Freeborn County Government Center, and court services officer James Everhart scans patrons who enter courtrooms.

“We’ve never had that before,” he said.

Freitag said the county was notified Dec. 18 its per-diem reimbursement for housing ICE inmates would increase from $77 to $95.

“That was not an easy process to do,” he said.

“That’s a huge increase.”

Freitag spoke of training Sheriff’s Office employees have participated in since he was elected, which he said is the best use-of-force training the department has ever had.

Freitag said under his watch, the Sheriff’s Office conducts more scenario-based training in situations that mimic real-life situations law enforcement officers face.

“The training that we’re doing is fantastic,” Freitag said. “It’s realistic.”

He said the training Sheriff’s Office personnel receives ensures the department is professional in every situation it faces.

A 20-year U.S. Army veteran, Freitag retired as a sergeant first class in 2005.

He began working for Glenville Police Department in May 1993 before becoming a Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy in July 1995, a position he held before besting then-incumbent sheriff Bob Kindler for the head position in 2014.

Freitag spoke of the development of drone and K-9 programs to assist the Sheriff’s Office in its operations as other positive steps the department has taken since he took office.

Sheriff’s Office deputies are now certified in pursuit intervention technique, a certification that means they have a better understanding of how to safely end high-speed vehicle pursuits in Freeborn County — a designation Freitag said is needed because of the abundance of major highways and interstates in the area.

Deputies are working to ensure local schools are safe, and the Sheriff’s Office has an active agent on the South Central Drug Task Force.

In October, the Sheriff’s Office joined the Missing Kids Readiness Project, which allows the department to better respond to a report of an abducted person by better utilizing available resources.

Freitag credited his staff with what he said has been a successful first term.

“I’m very happy with how the first term has unfolded so far,” he said. “We have very competent staff … I don’t have any complaints. Our leadership is top notch — they do a great job.”