Former Police Officer Seeks Seat in the Minnesota House Representing 58B

Editor's note: This is a press release submitted by Steve Quist, chair of DFL Senate District 58.

Jim Arlt, who served the Minnesota law enforcement community for more than 30 years, was endorsed unanimously by House District 58B Democrats on Thursday, April 5.  He will challenge the long-serving Farmington incumbent, Republican Pat Garofalo, in the November elections.

Jim, a political independent, decided to seek the DFL endorsement for House after meeting with legislators on issues related to his work in law enforcement.

Members of the local DFL group who have gotten to know Jim recently are very excited to support him. 

Jim, a Hastings area resident for over 20 years, has served as a police officer in the City of Northfield, as a deputy sheriff, and for the past 21 years, served in the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety as a special agent, senior special agent and interim director.  He retired in March 2012.

During his tenure in law enforcement, Jim has testified before the Legislature on numerous bills and on their potential effects on both Minnesota citizens and commerce. He also served on Governor Pawlenty’s Identity Theft task force.

Jim designed and implemented the Minnesota Department of Public Safety MnScams Program, which works with international law enforcement to identify and shut down scam operations targeting Minnesotans. These crimes siphon millions each year from Minnesotans and the state’s economy, and often target senior citizens.

Despite the belief among law enforcement agencies and attorney generals that such multi-jurisdictional, geographically diverse criminal activity could not be investigated, Jim successfully forged working relationships across the globe and across boundaries and institutions to collaboratively shut down criminal scam operations.

Jim often worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Postal Service, Federal Trade Commission, and with international law enforcement agencies, among them: Canada, Jamaica, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Nigeria. He has also traveled internationally training with other law enforcement agencies. 

Jim worked with private sector entities such as financial institutions, senior citizen housing complexes, the Better Business Bureau, AARP and some of Minnesota’s county attorneys to stop scam crimes through education.

While working for the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division Jim has also worked with associations representing the liquor industry, Minnesota tribal gambling entities, the Minnesota Lottery, Minnesota Gambling Control Board and the Minnesota Horse Racing Commission.

Among his many accomplishments, Jim was elected by his law enforcement peers to serve as Central Zone Chair within the national Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit. This position, which he held for five years, represents about 65 major cities, counties, states and provincial law enforcement agencies in the central United States and Canada. Jim initiated the National Gambling Intelligence Sharing Group consisting of law enforcement agencies that investigate gambling-related crimes conducted by organized criminal groups that travel to various jurisdictions.

Jim has four adult children with his first wife, Carmen, who passed away in 1991. Their children grew up in Hastings, attending area schools, and have gone on to successful careers. His wife Renae, a retired nurse, has two children, and together they have six grandchildren. Jim and Renae live in Ravenna Township.

Jim is active in the Hastings United Methodist Church, serving on the church council and as chair of its Beyond the Walls Committee, which focuses on area outreach and worldwide missions opportunities like the No More Malaria Initiative and Zoe Ministries in Africa. He also served as a volunteer football coach for 7th- and 8th-grade students, and for the Little Raiders program in Hastings. Jim’s interests include hunting, fishing, gardening, and spending time with his family and friends.

Jim’s ability to forge successful working relationships among different groups with different philosophies will serve as a positive force in the politically divided Minnesota Legislature.