ABERDEEN, S.D.(The Dakota Scout)- The lack of “overall support” for Brown County Sheriff Dave Lunzman’s wife as a correctional officer in his jail led him to give her a remote office in their Aberdeen home.
Several sources working in the jail and county government said that Mary Jane Lunzman has been working from home as a jail detention officer since her husband moved her from a position at the jail with the same title but different duties. That apparently happened in late May.
When appointed to that position in April, Mary Jane was tasked by her husband with implementing a training program for employees at the jail.
But that was short-lived as staff within the jail responded poorly to both Lunzmans’ approach to leadership. Several current and former employees who spoke with The Scout said that chief among the couple’s alleged offenses was targeting those who raised concerns about Mary Jane’s role in the jail with write ups, demotions and even firings.
Others with knowledge of the environment accused the sheriff of intentionally understaffing the jail — regularly assigning two correctional officers to a shift when four is considered normal — after the fallout with his wife.
Brown County commissioners contacted for this story were surprised to learn about the employment change. They said they were not made aware of the work venue change by the sheriff, and it had not come up in any of their personnel reports — briefings of the most recent employment comings and goings given to them during weekly commission meetings.
Duane Sutton, commission chairman, said that there was a rumor that Mary Jane had been working from home, but nothing the human resources department could confirm. He said he expects to learn more at the next commission meeting.
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