ABOUT DARRELL

Darrell Huggett brings more than 38 years of distinguished law enforcement service to his candidacy for Sheriff. His career began in a small local lakes-area police department and advanced to executive-level command within the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota’s largest sheriff’s office. Across every role, Darrell has demonstrated a commitment to strong leadership, accountability, and meaningful partnerships as the foundation of effective public safety.

Throughout his career, Darrell has worked directly with officers, government leaders, business owners, and community members, earning trust through professionalism, transparency, and respect for the people he serves. His executive experience includes oversight of enforcement operations, administrative functions, detention and court services, policy development and oversight, and organizational restructuring—always focused on efficiency, readiness, and service to the public.

As a senior commander, Darrell served as project manager for a $37 million consolidated 911 Communications Facility, the largest public-safety answering point in the Upper Midwest. This center provides police and fire dispatch and technical support for 27 communities, significantly improving emergency response and regional coordination. He also managed major public-safety assets during large-scale events, including serving as the highest-ranking sheriff’s commander for Super Bowl LII, where he coordinated hundreds of assisting officers and served as the primary liaison between law enforcement and county leadership.

Darrell’s leadership has also been tested during times of crisis. When catastrophic flooding devastated the city of Moorhead, Minnesota, he commanded the Sheriff’s Office response to a multi-million-dollar emergency relief operation in Northern Minnesota. This effort included deploying a mobile dispatch center, patrol equipment, and personnel to provide the city with policing services, which allowed local officers the time and space to address personal losses. The operation continued for several weeks and included extensive coordination with FEMA to ensure full cost recovery for taxpayers.

A strong believer in developing future leaders, Darrell has dedicated significant time to volunteer mentoring within the public-safety profession. He has mentored individuals seeking career guidance and professional growth, as well as engaged in meaningful dialogue with emerging and senior law enforcement leaders to develop leadership strategies for complex and evolving challenges. He believes investing in people today and for the future is essential to building strong, resilient public-safety organizations.

Darrell holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, where he studied executive leadership in public-safety administration. Early in his career, he served as a police canine handler and was later honored with a lifetime membership in the United States Police Canine Association. Darrell and his wife, Beverly, have lived in Carver County since 1992, where they raised their family and built deep roots in the community.

In closing:

“I have spent my entire career preparing for this moment. Carver County has been my home for more than three decades, and serving as your Sheriff would be both an honor and a responsibility I take seriously. Together, we can continue building a Sheriff’s Office that is professional, trusted, and focused on keeping our communities safe.”