STrib: Ex-U receiver tackles toughest task yet in 34-year career: disparities in Henn

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per STrib:

From Hennepin County detention deputy to head of county corrections and now operations, Chester “Chet” Cooper’s 34-year government career has had what he sees as a unified focus: raising the boat.

To him that means helping county residents lead better lives. He’s done the work through various programs.

Four years ago, Cooper took over leadership of corrections. Recently, he was elevated to chief operations officer and assistant county administrator for operations. In his new post, he will oversee county efforts to reduce economic and racial disparities.

“It’s not an initiative, it’s the way we’re going to do business in Hennepin County,” Cooper said.

He will focus on seven domains: education, employment, health, housing, income, justice and transportation. A good education and a livable wage drive the others, Cooper said.

Cooper started out working at the St. Joseph’s Home for Children, he said, because he wanted to make a difference. After a couple of years there, he doubled his salary when he took a job as a detention deputy in Hennepin County, commencing a 23-year ascent in the department. Cooper became a sworn deputy, then a sergeant, lieutenant and captain before joining upper management as the inspector of administrative services.

Six years ago, he moved to county administration as the head of adult services in the corrections department. Cooper came to Minnesota from his native New Jersey to play wide receiver for the Gophers. He and his wife raised two daughters in Brooklyn Center.

http://www.startribune.com/high-lev...o-corrections-to-disparities-chief/509825962/

Go Gophers!!
 





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