Kim Fundingsland/MDN Ward County Sheriff Bob Barnard, right, gestures while answering a question during a public forum Wednesday. Challengers in the upcoming primary election for sheriff, Michael McCloud, left and Robert Roed, center, also participated in the event hosted by the Minot Optimist Club at the Parker Center in downtown Minot.

Candidates for Ward County sheriff had an opportunity to express their thoughts on a variety of issues Wednesday. The occasion was a public forum hosted by the Minot Optimist Club at the Parker Center in downtown Minot.

Bob Barnard, who was appointed sheriff by Ward County commissioners following the retirement of Steve Kukowski in 2017, is facing challengers Michael McCloud and Robert Roed in the June 12 primary election. The top two vote getters will advance to the November general election.

Wednesday’s audience gathered to hear the candidates take turns in responding to written questions. Barnard, who joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2011, said he wanted to “finish what I started,” adding that he came to the department with several ideas and goals.

“The events that happened at the jail sort of derailed a little bit of that,” Barnard told the gathering.

It was an apparent reference to the death of an inmate, subsequent suspension of then Sheriff Kukowski and the placement of a jail monitor by the Department of Corrections.

Barnard noted that the jail received a perfect score in a recent evaluation.

“We’ve made some great strides,” said Barnard. “I’m very proud of where the jail is now. We need to maintain the standards and do absolutely the best we can.”

McCloud, a retired North Dakota Highway Patrol officer and current facility director for the Dakota Boy’s and Girl’s Ranch in Minot, Bismarck and Fargo, said, “You don’t ever want to face the public or the media and tell them that somebody died in the jail. When they are in your custody and control you are responsible for them.”

Roed, a captain who began his 27-year career with the Ward County Sheriff’s Department as a part-time corrections officer, responded by saying, “I know the ins and outs. I have worked in every aspect of the sheriff’s department. I have jail experience and patrol experience.”

All three candidates expressed the importance of having a law enforcement presence in rural areas. Roed noted that he learned a lot about handling various matters in small communities in the county during his years on patrol. McCloud said community policing was important and that sheriff’s officers need to live outside the City of Minot.

“They need to be stationed out there and interact with people,” said McCloud. “Community policing is huge.”

Barnard’s response to a submitted question about the biggest challenges facing the future sheriff turned to mental health and addiction, in particular those in need of treatment.

“The court system just isn’t built to help all these people. If they are too violent to go, too sick to go, or just refuse to go, then they go to jail,” said Barnard. “They don’t need to be in jail. Those are the people who should not be in jail and I don’t want them in jail. If you have significant health issues jail is not the place for you. That doesn’t help the problem.”

In his closing remarks McCloud addressed the same topic.

“One of the most important things that I would like to work on if elected sheriff is the addiction issues,” said McCloud. “We all know there are drugs coming into the community all the time.”

McCloud said he would like to add a K-9 unit to the sheriff’s department as part of an effort to combat illegal drugs.

In his final statement at the forum, Barnard detailed his lengthy law enforcement resume that began at the Minot Police Department 39 years ago and talked about what his department will face in the months ahead.

“Challenges in the future is going to be a constant state of improvement,” said Barnard. “We need to do a better job every day and encourage our staff to do the same.”