Dispatcher sworn in as deputy

A Union Co. dispatcher will be making the leap to law enforcement.

Jacob Pacholski will join Union County law enforcement in the role of deputy sheriff. The Afton resident was approved as a hire by the Union County board of supervisors in May and was sworn in last Thursday.

Union County Sheriff Brian Bolton said he was a standout applicant and is excited to have him as a deputy. During interviews, he was unanimously considered the best applicant by the hiring panel.

“[He’s got] a good head on his shoulders,” Bolton said. “I’m real excited about him. He’s a fit, strong kid. He’s going to be a good one.”

Through his time as a dispatcher, Pacholski got closer to Union County law enforcement.

“I did dispatching in here for about a year, slowly became a lot more interested in [law enforcement], working with everybody here,” Pacholski said. “Everybody here is pretty great.”

Pacholski was chosen out of a pool of five applicants, passing physical and health exams as well as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory exam, which looks at an individual’s mental health for any issues which could be unsuitable for law enforcement.

Bolton said he’s noticed an increasing number of applicants failing the MMPI.

“It seems like, anymore, a lot of people are failing the MMPI and they need to talk to a psychiatrist,” Bolton said.

As a dispatcher, Pacholski has already served the Creston area since 2024. He expects those experiences will help him assist the people of Union County better.

“I’ve gotten a better look at it than most people would,” Pacholski said. “It’s influenced my choice in getting the job.”

Bolton was especially positive of Pacholski when speaking to the Union County board of supervisors, including praising the dispatcher’s critical thinking skills.

“I am very thankful we had him as an applicant,” Bolton said. “It’s hard to find quality applicants right now... Jacob is just a real squared-away kid. He’s 23, a county resident so he knows the county, he’s familiar with the area. Working dispatch, he’s got that experience that can add to it.”

Pacholski joins the Sheriff’s Office force which includes a sheriff, a chief deputy, two sergeants and three deputies.