Jeff Stadum volunteered to be reassigned to a patrolling officer position in Pelican Rapids—opening a position for police chief.
Stadum is pictured here at a DARE program, in which he has been active for nearly 20 years. Stadum is also known locally for instituting the “Shop with a Cop” holiday program.

There will be a new sheriff in town, so to speak, possibly within the next few months, as Pelican Rapids advertises for a police chief. 

Longtime Chief Jeff Stadum has requested that the city hire a new chief, and he will return to the role of a patrol officer. Stadum has also expressed interest in serving as a school liaison officer assigned to the Pelican schools, if the school service officer program returns.

“Chief Stadum isn’t in it for the money; he’s not in it for the title…he’s a servant,” said city administrator Lance Roisum. 

Stadum is a Pelican Rapids native. He was a police officer in Jamestown, ND, before returning to his hometown around 2001 to accept a patrol officer position. He was named Pelican Rapids police chief in 2008. 

With Stadum’s decision to pull back to an officer position, the council agreed to begin advertising and posting for a new chief by Sept. 29.

The postings for a new chief were expected to begin circulating statewide this week, including law enforcement publications and online, and with the League of Minnesota Cities. 

The Pelican police position was advertised with a salary range of $78,458 to $101,982.