Published: 10/13/2009
By Ian Larson
President Barack Obama nominated Assistant Minneapolis Police Chief Sharon Lubinski as Minnesota’s next U.S. marshal today.
If selected, Lubinski would be the first female U.S. marshal to serve in Minnesota and would be the first openly gay U.S marshal.
"Assistant Chief Lubinski has dedicated her career to the noble cause of protecting her fellow Americans," Obama said in a press release. "She has displayed exceptional courage in the pursuit of justice, and I am honored to nominate her today to continue her selfless work as a U.S. marshal for the District of Minnesota."
Lubinski was recommended to the position by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in June.
Lubinski has worked in the Minneapolis Police department for 20 years, and served eight years in the Dane County Sherriff’s Department in Madison, Wis., according to her profile on the Minneapolis Police departmen t website.
Plans for a potential successor to Lubinski in the Minneapolis Police department have not yet begun, Minneapolis Police Sergeant Jesse Garcia said.
“You want to make sure it’s all set in stone before you start buying the uniforms,” Garcia said.
Garcia added that Lubinski is “extremely qualified” for the position.
Nationwide, there are 94 U.S. marshals, one for each federal judicial district. Lubinski would be one of only two active female U.S. marshals in the country.
Marshals operate within the U.S. Justice Department and manage the Witness Security Program and transport federal prisoners.