Letter from Chief of Police
Fri, 10/22/2021 - 3:13pm
admin
Hello! I, Daniel Gazelka, have served as Chief of Police for the Cities of Clearbrook and Gonvick since June of 2012. In 2018 I began thinking of changing careers, having just received a Bachelors degree in Leadership and Ministry from Oak Hills Christian College. As life would have it, a sequence of Pipeline protesters, Covid, Floyd, the POTUS in Bemidji and more protesters turned those plans upside down. I finally realized that in Law Enforcement, the emergencies never end. In March of this year I took my first vacation in 4 years and had some solid time to think about life plans.
I had served in other law enforcement jobs at different departments prior to Clearbrook and Gonvick and deployed to Bosnia and Iraq with the US Army prior to my law enforcement career. I realized I had been serving in one capacity or another for over 20 years!
At the end of my weeks off, I decided the time had come, and began the paperwork that would enable me to move on with my next phase in life. I expanded both my Body-camera auditing business and Permit to Carry, Advanced Firearms and Self Defense courses through “Rampart,” and both endeavors are going quite well.
The Police Chief position was announced for applications and several were received with the top applicants being interviewed. Ryan Solee was offered the position pending my official resignation. While I was not part of the hiring or screening process, I do know Ryan has experience as an investigator, Drug Taskforce Agent, Chief Deputy and Assistant Police Chief. I believe his many years of experience in almost every aspect of Law Enforcement will serve our northern communities well.
As of October 11th, 2021...I tendered my formal, written resignation to the Clearbrook Counsel, and that same letter to the Gonvick Counsel.
It has been my deep honor and privilege to serve the communities in Clearwater County. Law Enforcement is an extremely complex and difficult job...So, to those with a servant’s heart, you have my deepest respect as you continue to Serve and Protect.
I plan to stay in the area with my wife April and our children, and continue living life to its fullest. God bless.