MN: Retiring Kasson police chief will try the gun business

[dismal]

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager ... 2&a=348493

Retiring Kasson police chief will try the gun business
6/21/2008 12:35:01 AM
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By Heather J. Carlson

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

KASSON -- Step into Manland Guns and it is tough to miss the camouflage table covers, American flags and pictures of black Labrador Retrievers.

This is Kasson Police Chief Dave Johnson's haven. The shop sits by his rural Kasson home and has the feel of a northwoods cabin with an Army surplus store twist. It is here that the burly chief can often be found when he is not at the police station, working to repair historic guns and listening to oldies on the radio.

"It's not that ladies aren't welcome. It's just that you can't have any of the remotes, and you can't change the channel on the radio," he said with a smile.

With Johnson's retirement date of June 30 approaching, the veteran police officer plans to focus more of his attention on his gun business.

"I'll try it full time until I get tired of doing it. Right now it's fun because it's part time," Johnson said.

The 58-year-old chief's love affair with guns began early. Around age 12, he got his first gun for Christmas. He enjoyed getting together with friends and shooting at gun ranges. But about 14 years ago, he realized another talent -- fixing guns.

Establishing 'Manland'

A friend brought him a Remington 870 shotgun in pieces in a box looking for help. The gun's owner had accidentally dismantled the gun while trying to clean it. Johnson set the pieces out on the floor of his den and within three hours had the gun put back together. The experience made him think: "If you can do that in three hours with no training and experience, imagine what you could do if you got some training."

So Johnson began doing gun repair classes online and watching instructional DVDs. In 2002, he obtained his federal firearms license and launched "Manland Guns," a name that came from his girlfriend's daughter because of all the guys hanging out at the shop watching TV and listening to the radio.

The part-time gig turned out to be a big success, with the chief building a new, bigger shop in 2004 to make room for all his inventory. While Johnson said he enjoys working with all sorts of guns, he has developed a passion for historic guns dating back to the 19th century. On a recent weeknight, he showed off a couple of his most recent projects, including a .22-caliber rifle from 1870 with a broken gun stock.

Going after predators

The solitude of the gun shop will be a sharp change from Johnson's 20-year career leading Kasson's police department. Fellow officers say Johnson is known for his easygoing nature and eagerness to work with his fellow officers.

"You can joke with him and you can talk with him. He has an open door policy. He is easy to deal with," said Sgt. Ken Berghuis.

Johnson has also been known to give his investigators the green light to try out new ideas -- like Internet sex stings. Two years ago, investigators inspired by Dateline's "To Catch a Predator" series and a resident's report of sex predators targeting her child online led to a sting operation. That first sting netted seven men who faced felony charges for soliciting sex from someone they believed was a 14-year-old girl.

The small-town department's success made local and national headlines.

"I'll tell you it was a can of worms we opened that we never, never imagined would escalate to the depths that it did," Johnson said. "We actually had an individual drive five hours in one day thinking he was going to meet a 14-year-old girl."

Since then, the Kasson Police Department and Dodge County Sheriff's Office have teamed up to do two more Internet stings.

As Johnson reflects on his career, he said one of his proudest accomplishments has been helping to build the department. That includes recruiting and getting community donations for the department's two most famous officers -- police dogs Justice and Rex.

"I'm a little envious of them. I've been here 35 years, and I don't have a car with my name on it," Johnson said.

But ultimately, Johnson said he will miss his fellow officers.

"It has been my privilege to work with those guys," he said. "I'll remember that for all my life."

For more information, go to Postbulletin.com/weblinks.


Kasson Police Department http://www.cityofkasson.com/index.asp?T ... 2E0A8D9%7D

[BRIT_in_the_weeds]

Sounds like an interesting and humble guy

[1911fan]

Ten to one, his dress uniform has very little bling attached to it, Maybe chaska can hire him to teach Capt Bling how to act.

[westhope]

I have helped teach NRA and Permit to Carry classes in Rochester with Dave for several years. Good guy.

[jwinker]

Step into Manland Guns...

Anyone else having an Arrested Development moment when they read this?

Tobias: Well, yes, but I’m afraid I prematurely shot my wad on what was supposed to be a dry run, if you will, so now I’m afraid I have something of a mess on my hands.
Michael: It's just there's so many poorly chosen words in that sentence.

Tobias: Well, Michael, you really are quite the Cupid, aren’t you? I tell you, you can zing your arrow into my buttocks any time.
Michael: Okay, you know what you do? You buy yourself a tape recorder, you just record yourself for a whole day. I think you’re going to be surprised at some of your phrasing.

[ttousi]

Step into Manland Guns...

Anyone else having an Arrested Development moment when they read this?

Tobias: Well, yes, but I’m afraid I prematurely shot my wad on what was supposed to be a dry run, if you will, so now I’m afraid I have something of a mess on my hands.
Michael: It's just there's so many poorly chosen words in that sentence.

Tobias: Well, Michael, you really are quite the Cupid, aren’t you? I tell you, you can zing your arrow into my buttocks any time.
Michael: Okay, you know what you do? You buy yourself a tape recorder, you just record yourself for a whole day. I think you’re going to be surprised at some of your phrasing.

love that show