After nine months largely out of the public eye as a St. Paul police watch commander, former Ramsey County sheriff Bob Fletcher emerged this week with a new Somali educational venture he created in his spare time.
He sent out a brochure today to people, including elected officials, for a seminar that costs $150 a head called Understanding the People of Somalia, put on by the Center for Somalia History Studies. Fletcher founded the center in the past month and acts as director, he said.
"The training program had been a concept that I had while I was sheriff," Fletcher said. "I was always troubled that we weren't doing more to educate government employees about the history and culture of the Somali community. It was on my list of things I always wanted to do but never got to as sheriff."
In the brochure, Fletcher appears in a photo in his sheriff's uniform and mentions his experience with the sheriff's office from 1995 to 2010. He doesn't mention his current police job.
He didn't want to "blur lines," he said.
"If he's doing this as Bob Fletcher, then the photo should be of Bob Fletcher," said Randy Gustafson, a Ramsey County sheriff's spokesman. "He should not appear in the uniform."
The police department is not involved with Fletcher's effort.
The photo could be some variation of false representation, David Schultz, a Hamline University professor who teaches government ethics, said, based on its description.
Nothing prevents Fletcher from saying his expertise comes from being sheriff, Schultz said. Creating a false impression that Fletcher is still sheriff for financial gain has ethical implications, he said.
Fletcher was sheriff for 16 years until he was ousted in the November election by Matt Bostrom. While Fletcher was sheriff, he was criticized - and sued - for political retaliation.
As watch commander, Fletcher said he works 40 hours a week instead of 60 hours he worked as sheriff. He's been spending that extra time on developing the center.
He plans to apply for nonprofit status for the center.
The center's long-term goal is to continue collecting history of the Somali community, Fletcher said. Educating government employees and officials is one component.
In an email to elected officials, Fletcher wrote, "I have been working with leaders in the Somali community to develop a training program to help government employees better understand the complexity of the Somali experience."
The seminar, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in St. Paul on Nov. 10, will cover topics including the history of Somalia, Al Shabaab, youth gangs, khat, the transition to the United States and Somali culture.
In addition to Fletcher, Omar Jamal, the former executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center; Dahir Jibreel, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center; and Abdirizak Bihi, director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center, will speak.
The registration fee will help pay for presenters and seminar expenses, Fletcher said.
During a follow-up call to Fletcher's phone Wednesday evening, voicemail went to the Center for Somalia History Studies.
Dave Orrick contributed to this report. Brady Gervais can be reached at 651-228-5513. You can follow Brady on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bgervais and www.twitter.com/ppUsualSuspects
Source: www.twincities.com
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