Here is our interview with Henry Mathia for Washington County Sheriff. He will be on the ballot this November.
To view the response to each candidate for Washington County Sheriff see:
Jeremy Bolen Interview
Jeremy Bolen Interview
1. Tell us about yourself and your background.
My name is Henry Mathia, and I am running to be the next Sheriff for Washington County,
Minnesota. I am a father, a Deputy Sheriff, and a Navy Veteran. In addition, I enjoy working out because physical fitness, health and wellness are essential and important to me. I was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone. After graduating from secondary school, I moved to the United States on October 10, 1997. Upon arriving in the United States, I enlisted in the US Navy in Baltimore on February 12, 1998. Upon graduating from boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois, I was assigned to the USS SCOUT (MCM-8) at Naval Station in Ingleside, Texas. While assigned to USS SCOUT, I completed one deployment to Europe and the Middle East with INCHON TASK GROUP. In February of 2001, I received an honorable discharge from active duty and was then transferred to the Navy Reserve. In 2013, I received my commission through the Limited Duty Officer (LDO) program and was designated as a Navy Security Force Officer. Henry Mathia holds a BA degree in Criminal Justice from the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Law Enforcement Certificate from the Minneapolis Community and Technical College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon graduating from college, he started his civilian career as a Deputy Sheriff with the Ramsey County Sheriff`s Office, MN. Mathia is
currently a Patrol Deputy performing law enforcement duties within the contracted cities in
Ramsey County, Minnesota. Henry Mathia has served in the following Navy Reserve units: NCHB 7 Air Cargo, NOSC Minneapolis, Minnesota. NR Navy Security Force, Great Lakes, Illinois, and NR NSF in Rota, Spain. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, he was mobilized to active duty in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. He was mobilized to the following locations: NSA Bahrain from November 2002 to May 2003. CENTCOM Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from September 2008 to August 2009. Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, from April 2013 to August 2013. Upon getting his commission, Mathia was assigned as the XO (Executive Officer) for the Naval Security Force (Reserve) Unit in Great Lakes, Illinois. In 2021, Mathia was assigned as Force Protection Officer for Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 1 (MSRON-1) SBC Bravo, in Portland, Oregon. In 2020, Henry Mathia was deployed to Djibouti (Africa) as the Installation Security Officer (SECO). He was responsible for managing the training of Naval Security Force personnel tasked with providing security for property, information, and contingency operations within the Horn of Africa and CENTCOM AOR`s. In 2023, Mathia was deployed with Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron ONE BRAVO (MSRON-1B) as the Officer-in-Charge for the Embarked Security Team and Aircraft Security Team in support of missions within the EUCOM, CENTCOM, and INDOPACOM AOR`s.
His personal awards include:
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and
Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Armed Forces
Reserve Medal with “M” Device, NATO Medal, and numerous unit, campaign and service
awards.
Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Armed Forces
Reserve Medal with “M” Device, NATO Medal, and numerous unit, campaign and service
awards.
2. Why are you running?
I am running because I believe I can make a major difference and I’m well prepared to meet the challenges ahead. My priorities are guided by the core values that have shaped my leadership: honor, courage, fairness, and integrity. I am a United States Navy veteran, a current Deputy Sheriff, and a proud father with more than 12 years of law enforcement experience and 26 years of military service. My campaign is centered on strengthening public safety, reinforcing community trust, and leading the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with integrity, accountability, and a servant-leadership philosophy.
Key priorities once I get elected include:
Implement a maximum public safety initiative — not only to protect lives but also to
foster trust and economic growth. We will compile a threat level assessment and establish
mitigation protocols to protect our schools, judiciary, executive offices, shopping areas,
entertainment venues, and religious institutions.
Protect our Constitutional Rights — As Sheriff, I will ensure that the Due Process and
Equal Protection clauses apply to everyone. I say again: EVERYONE. The 14 th
Amendment is probably the most consequential amendment in our Constitution. Hence, it
is fundamental for our existence.
Force Generation — We will marshal the best resources to meet the county's demands,
including recruitment, retention, sustainment training, logistics, and operational
readiness.
Community Cohesion — Foster unity and focus on shared values.
Jail Management and Fiscal Responsibility — We must spend our tax dollars wisely.
Initiatives to Combat Mental Fatigue, Depression, and PTSD
Implement a maximum public safety initiative — not only to protect lives but also to
foster trust and economic growth. We will compile a threat level assessment and establish
mitigation protocols to protect our schools, judiciary, executive offices, shopping areas,
entertainment venues, and religious institutions.
Protect our Constitutional Rights — As Sheriff, I will ensure that the Due Process and
Equal Protection clauses apply to everyone. I say again: EVERYONE. The 14 th
Amendment is probably the most consequential amendment in our Constitution. Hence, it
is fundamental for our existence.
Force Generation — We will marshal the best resources to meet the county's demands,
including recruitment, retention, sustainment training, logistics, and operational
readiness.
Community Cohesion — Foster unity and focus on shared values.
Jail Management and Fiscal Responsibility — We must spend our tax dollars wisely.
Initiatives to Combat Mental Fatigue, Depression, and PTSD
3. What are areas of improvement in the sheriff department that you will address?
Maximum Public Safety Initiative
One of my top priorities upon taking office will be implementing a Maximum Public Safety
Initiative designed to protect our residents, strengthen economic growth, and establish proactive response programs for critical institutions. This initiative will focus on safeguarding our lawmakers, judicial officials, schools, and religious institutions through comprehensive planning and preparedness. To accomplish this, I will build and maintain strong partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Secret Service, and the United States Capitol Police to ensure coordinated security efforts and rapid response capabilities. Improving Department Performance and Accountability
I am committed to improving our departments overall performance and accountability.
According to Police Scorecard, the Washington County Sheriff`s Office currently ranks at 47%
for safety and accountability when compared to similarly sized agencies. Areas requiring
improvement include the handling of police misconduct complaints, reducing racial disparities,
and strengthening public trust. I would implement internal processes and procedures that would foster an informed safety culture and ensure accountability for those at the lowest level to myself as Sheriff. My administration will implement measurable performance standards, increase transparency, and promote professional development to ensure the highest level of service to our community. Jail Management Reform Effective jail management is essential to both public safety and fiscal responsibility. A significant portion of taxpayer dollars is spent addressing lawsuits and liability issues that often stem from inadequate training, staffing shortages, and ineffective hiring practices.
I will prioritize:
Enhanced and continuous training for detention personnel.
Improved recruitment and retention strategies.
Appropriate staffing levels to ensure safe operations.
Policies that reduce liability and improve inmate and staff safety.
Enhanced and continuous training for detention personnel.
Improved recruitment and retention strategies.
Appropriate staffing levels to ensure safe operations.
Policies that reduce liability and improve inmate and staff safety.
These reforms will help protect taxpayers while creating a more professional and efficient
detention system. Strengthening Community Cohesion Strong communities are built on trust, shared values, and meaningful partnerships. I will work to foster unity throughout our community by:
Promoting a sense of belonging for all residents, regardless of background.
Building partnerships with local businesses, schools, religious institutions, and
community leaders.
Encouraging collaborative efforts that enhance public safety and community well-being.
Developing a Family Care Plan for juvenile offenders that focuses on family involvement, accountability, mentorship, and early intervention. By bringing people together and addressing challenges before they become crises, we can create safer neighborhoods and a stronger future for everyone.
detention system. Strengthening Community Cohesion Strong communities are built on trust, shared values, and meaningful partnerships. I will work to foster unity throughout our community by:
Promoting a sense of belonging for all residents, regardless of background.
Building partnerships with local businesses, schools, religious institutions, and
community leaders.
Encouraging collaborative efforts that enhance public safety and community well-being.
Developing a Family Care Plan for juvenile offenders that focuses on family involvement, accountability, mentorship, and early intervention. By bringing people together and addressing challenges before they become crises, we can create safer neighborhoods and a stronger future for everyone.
4. what sets you apart from the other candidates?
What sets me apart from other candidates is the breadth of experience I have gained through both my military and civilian careers. I recently retired from the United States Navy after 27 years of dedicated service. Throughout my naval career, I had the privilege of working alongside individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, socioeconomic, and political backgrounds. These experiences strengthened my ability to lead, communicate, and build effective teams in a wide range of environments.
During my military service, I held leadership positions at multiple levels, beginning as a work
center supervisor and progressing to Navy Chief and Officer-in-Charge roles. I also led units
during overseas deployment missions, where I was responsible for mission success, personnel development, and operational readiness under demanding conditions. In addition to my military experience, I have served with the Ramsey County Sheriffs Office for the past 14 years. Most of that time has been spent performing patrol duties in our contracted cities throughout Ramsey County. This experience has allowed me to respond to a wide range of
incidents, including high-profile and complex calls for service. These experiences have provided me with valuable insight into the challenges facing our criminal justice system and the importance of pursuing reforms that promote fairness, accountability, and positive outcomes for all members of the community. Throughout my law enforcement career, I have also had the opportunity to engage with residents, business leaders, and community stakeholders to discuss ways to strengthen trust, enhance public safety, and improve community cohesion. The combination of my military leadership experience and my extensive law enforcement background has prepared me to effectively lead this department and serve our community with integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
center supervisor and progressing to Navy Chief and Officer-in-Charge roles. I also led units
during overseas deployment missions, where I was responsible for mission success, personnel development, and operational readiness under demanding conditions. In addition to my military experience, I have served with the Ramsey County Sheriffs Office for the past 14 years. Most of that time has been spent performing patrol duties in our contracted cities throughout Ramsey County. This experience has allowed me to respond to a wide range of
incidents, including high-profile and complex calls for service. These experiences have provided me with valuable insight into the challenges facing our criminal justice system and the importance of pursuing reforms that promote fairness, accountability, and positive outcomes for all members of the community. Throughout my law enforcement career, I have also had the opportunity to engage with residents, business leaders, and community stakeholders to discuss ways to strengthen trust, enhance public safety, and improve community cohesion. The combination of my military leadership experience and my extensive law enforcement background has prepared me to effectively lead this department and serve our community with integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
5. What is your website for people to get involved?
WWW.MATHIA4SHERIFF.COM;
Facebook: Henry Mathia for Washington County Sheriff
