CARLTON — Carlton County Sheriff Kelly Lake will retire in January at the end of her term, she announced Wednesday, April 8.
Lake made the announcement with "conflicting emotions" after serving in the role for two decades.
She has been with the sheriff's office for 37 years. She was appointed sheriff in 2005, becoming Carlton County’s first female sheriff, before being elected in 2006. She was among the first women elected sheriff in Minnesota.
At least six other Northern Minnesota sheriffs are planning to retire in the coming months. The role will be up for election in November in most counties in the region.
In her announcement, Lake thanked the public for their trust, her colleagues for their dedication and her family for their love and support.
"My heart is filled with gratitude for the people I have been blessed to work with and for those I have met along this journey," Lake wrote. " ... I look forward to serving the remainder of this term with the same dedication that I started my career with in 1989."
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