Goodman, who announced her bid recently, said one of her top priorities would be building relationships with neighborhood groups, businesses, schools, other law enforcement agencies and other groups.
"Community policing is not a program," she said. "It's about transforming the culture in law enforcement to effectively work with our communities."
Goodman, who started her career as a Ramsey County sheriff's deputy in 1981, has held her position at St. Kate's since 2006. She was the state crime victim ombudsman from 1992 to 2003, Brooklyn Center deputy police chief from 2003 to 2005 and a Minneapolis police sergeant and acting lieutenant from 1985 to 1992. She is a past president of the International Association of Women Police and chairs the association's Board of Trustees.
Bob Fletcher, serving his fourth term as Ramsey County sheriff, has said he plans to run again.
Matt Bostrom, an assistant St. Paul police chief, announced Dec. 8 that he is running. Both Bostrom and Goodman said they'll seek the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement, although the race is not a partisan one.
Jockeying for delegate support begins in earnest with the party's precinct caucuses on Tuesday. A spokesman for Bostrom said he would abide by the endorsement, and Goodman said her "sense" was that she would as well.
Goodman, 55, cited one reason she's running for sheriff: "I felt what I was hearing on the news about the current sheriff was not appropriate." She pointed to Mark Naylon and the Metro Gang Strike Force as examples.
The strike force, dismantled last year, is under federal investigation after the legislative auditor reported that the multijurisdictional unit could not account for more than $18,000 in seized cash and 14 confiscated cars.
"There's at least an inference that the sheriff tried to stop an investigation when people were throwing up red flags," Goodman said.
Naylon, a Fletcher friend and former sheriff's office public information officer, was found guilty in 2008 of theft of government funds and other charges in an FBI sting. Naylon was not a licensed peace officer, but trial testimony showed he spent most of his time engaged in police work.
"We all had to go to school to become licensed police officers," Goodman said. "We are all required every three years to get training to ensure that our license is up to date. So, to have somebody who hasn't had to do any of that out on the street astounds me."
Fletcher has said it's inaccurate to characterize Naylon as having done police work.
Rep. Michael Paymar, DFL-St. Paul, was chief author last year of a bill that became law and stiffened penalties for allowing nonlicensed people to act as police officers. Paymar, who has said the bill was in response to the Naylon case, is one of Goodman's campaign co-chairs, and they've been in a relationship for six years.
Goodman's other campaign co-chairs are Sen. Richard Cohen, Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, Rep. Mindy Greiling and Marlene Kayser, a community member.
Responding to Goodman's overall criticisms about community trust, Fletcher said the three core functions of his office — patrol, operating the jail and court security — have received "high marks."
Goodman lives in St. Paul's Highland Park, where she grew up.
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