Both Cass County sheriff candidates released video statements addressing the January complaint made by Deputy Aaron Ammerman, who is running against Sheriff Bryan Welk.
Welk publicly stated for the first time in a video posted Saturday, Oct. 17, that the allegations are “false.”
KAXE reported the details of the complaint earlier this month.
In the complaint, Ammerman said he witnessed the sheriff show nude images in an internal investigation to employees with no job-related reasons to see them. He also said Welk showed video of a naked man in jail to a member of the public.
In his video response, Welk said he’s had to make tough calls related to employee issues, which haven’t always been popular.
“Data practices laws prevent me from talking about the specifics of these situations, and I want to assure you that these decisions needed to be made," Welk said. "I’ve never inappropriately disclosed protected information to people who did not need to know.”
Welk said he promises a positive campaign that focused on accomplishments and plans for the future.
"I'm proud of my record. I'm proud of our sheriff's office and proud to ask for the opportunity to continue serving as your sheriff," Welk said.
Ammerman responded on Sunday night. He said he has offered to take a polygraph examination and still would. Ammerman said retaliation he experienced months after he became a whistleblower motivated him to run for sheriff.
"The way Cass County handled these matters revealed a troubling lack of accountability and transparency," Ammerman said.
He also said he has copies of his complaint and his statement to an attorney hired by the county to investigate.
“With Sheriff Welk’s permission, I’m prepared to make these documents available to the public," Ammerman said. "I believe the voters deserve an opportunity to review the facts and reach their own conclusion, rather than simply taking anyone’s word for it.”
Cass County has maintained the documents detailing the complaint and investigation are private data in response to multiple KAXE data requests.
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