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Linda Cole (far left, standing) addressing the Pine County Board, Tuesday

A former Pine County Sheriff’s Department employee is filing suit against the county and Sheriff accusing them of a cover up that resulted in his termination.

Linda Cole, the wife of former Pine County Lieutenant and Emergency Manager Robin Cole, says Pine County Attorney John Carlson and Sheriff Mark Mansavage intentionally concealed facts after R. Cole reported violations and suspected violations of state law.  Cole claims her husband’s accusations ultimately resulted in him losing his job.

Linda Cole addressed the Pine County Board, Tuesday, during public comment.  She accused Carlson of threatening her husband with insubordination charges after Cole brought the allegations forward.  She said Carlson “unethically controlled the investigation in order to determine its outcome,” adding that the County Attorney conducted only a cursory review of the allegations while ignoring others.

Linda Cole:

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Co. Attorney John Carlson

Carlson and Mansavage declined to comment.   Calls made to their lawyer, Dyan Ebert, have not yet been returned.

Carlson did  release a statement.  The County Attorney states, “I was not named as a Defendant in this lawsuit.  However, Mrs. Cole chose to speak against my integrity during the hearing today and claim that I am involved in some kind of cover-up of illegal activities within the County.  I have served Pine County for 29 years as County Attorney.  I do not appreciate being accused of impropriety when everything about the investigation into Robin Cole’s allegations against the Sheriff was completely appropriate and above-board.  Mrs. Cole does not have all the facts.”

In a letter sent to County Attorney Carlson in July, 2008, Cole makes several accusations against Mansavage including misappropriations of public funds, misconduct of a public officer,  and a hostile work environment.

Cole claims Mansavage purchased a Pine County Sheriff’s Office letterman’s type jacket and gave it to a female county employee not employed by the sheriff’s office.  Cole says the jacket was paid for with public money.

The same letter also alleges that Mansavage rejected Cole’s proposal to address excessive use of over-time hours.  Cole said the system needed changes because it was out of compliance with the State Auditor’s Statement of Position in reference to Employee Timekeeping Procedures.    Cole says Mansavage publicly criticized him for the plan and told him he was overstepping his boundaries.

A letter written to Cole from Sheriff Mansavage, obtained through court documents, states Cole was fired because his “employment application included false and/or misleading information regarding [Cole's] reason for leaving the Minneapolis Police Department.  As a result, [Cole's] probationary employment with the Pine County Sheriff’s Department is terminated effective immediately.”

Cole was terminated on August 25, 2008, the day after his probationary period ended.

In a statement released Tuesday, Mansavage said, “In response to comments made by Linda Cole at the September 1, 2009 County Board meeting, I agree with the response issued by County Attorney John Carlson.  As the litigation progresses, there will be more opportunities for me to comment on the allegations in Robin Cole’s lawsuit.  For now, I hope that the parties will allow the court process to proceed without further interference.”

Sheriff Mark Mansavage

According to a letter, obtained through court documents,  sent from Carlson to Cole, an investigation into the accusations against Mansavage was conducted by attorney Kim Sobieck of Ratwik, Roszak, and Maloney, P.A.  The letter states, “Based on the investigation, your complaint was unable to be substantiated.”

Linda Cole presented the county board with a list of accusations at Tuesday’s meeting.  It includes allegations that Mansavage used county owned ATV’s for personal use.

Furthermore, Linda Cole alleges that Mansavage and Chief Deputy Steve Ovick used county funds to purchase a handgun for Carlson.

In the press release, Carlson said, “Specifically speaking to the claim that the Sheriff’s Department ordered a gun for me for my personal use, a firearm was ordered by the Sheriff’s Department at my request but was paid for out of the County Attorney’s budget.  This purchase was deemed necessary as a result of threats against my life in my capacity as County Attorney.  The County Board was made fully aware of the circumstances of the threats and the recommendation of the Sheriff’s Department that I have a weapon for protection while the person making the threats was at large.  The person who made those threats against my life has been charged and convicted of Terroristic Threats.  The firearm has always been the property of Pine County and will continue to be so after I am gone.”

Pine County Judges Krista Martin and James Reuter have recused themselved from the case.  P. Hunter Anderson will conduct the proceedings.  A trial is set for March 29th, 2010.