Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Jeffery W. Backer, Jr., Mark L. Fahning, and Donald S. Winger, and the reappointment of Mark A. LeTexier and Janice L. Unstad to the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST Board).

Backer, of Browns Valley, is a businessman and entrepreneur and is serving his third term as mayor of Browns Valley. He is also a volunteer emergency medical technician with the Browns Valley Ambulance Service, and is active with his local Lions Club, church, and other local civic organizations. Backer holds a bachelor of science in public administration from St. Cloud State University. Backer is appointed to a four-year term on the POST Board that expires on January 7, 2013, and replaces Sara Becker as a member representing elected city officials from a non-metropolitan city with a population of less than 5,000 people.

Fahning, of Savage, is a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol, where he is currently assigned to the Mankato District. He has been a State Patrol trooper since 1990, and previously was a police officer with the River Falls, Wisconsin Police Department from 1984 to 1990, and a St. Croix County, Wisconsin Sheriff’s deputy from 1980 to 1984. As a member of the State Patrol, he has served as a background investigator, field training officer, commercial vehicle inspector, and a rookie school staff officer. Fahning replaces Brent Richter on the POST Board as a member representing the Minnesota State Patrol Troopers Association to complete a four-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

LeTexier, of East Grand Forks, is the Polk County Sheriff in Crookston as well as the Polk County Emergency Management Director, positions he has held since 2002. He was a deputy Polk County Sheriff from 1986 to 2002. LeTexier serves on a number of professional associations – both nationally as well as locally, represents the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association on the 911 Public Safety Answering Point Committee, is a past District One Sheriff’s Director, and is active in many local civic organizations. LeTexier earned his associate in applied science degree from Northland Community College in Thief River Falls, and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. LeTexier, who has been a member of the POST Board since 2007, is reappointed as a representative of county sheriffs to a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Unstad, of Minneapolis, is the director of political action with Xcel Energy in Minneapolis, and previously held positions as director of corporate foundation relations, and executive director of development with the University of Minnesota. She has nearly 30 years of experience in development and public affairs, beginning her career as a program coordinator with the Minnesota Law Enforcement Training Center. Unstad’s community activities include serving as a founding board member of the St. Paul Police Foundation and a committee and event chair with Neighborhood House. She earned her bachelor of arts degree from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Unstad, who has been a public member on the POST Board since 1992, is reappointed to another four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Winger, of Maplewood, is the dean of the School of Professional Programs at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, a position he has held since 2007. He was the police science program director at St. Mary’s University from 2002 to 2007, chief of the Maplewood Police Department from 1998 to 2002, and a police officer with the St. Paul Police Department from 1972 to 1998. He was the deputy director of security for the Republican National Convention in St. Paul; a community faculty member with Metropolitan State University; and a loaned executive to the Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute, where he served as director. Winger is a veteran of the United States Army, where he served a tour in Vietnam. He earned his master of arts degree in education from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul; his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls; and a certification in law enforcement administration from the FBI National Academy. Winger is appointed to a four-year term on the POST Board that expires on January 7, 2013, and replaces John Phillips as a member representing administrators from a college that offers professional peace officer education programs.

The Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training establishes minimum qualifications and standards of conduct and regulates professional peace officer education and continuing education programs. The board consists of 15 members, including 14 appointed by the Governor.