Bishop Cozzens
In February it was shared that through prayer and discernment, and discussions with the Diocesan Finance Council and Ministerial Review Board (MRB), I moved to establish a part-time “Bishop’s Delegate” position within our Office of Safe Environment.
The delegate position will manage diocesan processes for handling allegations of misconduct ensuring full compliance with the law, our Safe Environment policies and procedures, and the USCCB Charter. The delegate will also facilitate the work of the MRB and collaborate with Office of Safe Environment staff concerning programming, certifications, and audits. To date, the Vicar General has filled this role, but this move toward a new hire places a qualified lay person with oversight of allegations as they advance through process and disclosure.
The position was advertised for six weeks, and I am grateful that several excellent applicants in our region stepped forward for consideration and were interviewed. I am pleased to share that Mr. Jim Remer was offered the position and has accepted. He will begin May 1.
Jim, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish in East Grand Forks, retired in 2021 after a 30+ year career in law enforcement. Jim has been married to his wife, Joann, for 30 years and they have three adult daughters — Stacy, Michele, and Jessica.
In 1989, Jim earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice Studies from the University of North Dakota. Jim moved through the ranks of the Grand Forks Police Department, serving first as an officer, then sergeant, lieutenant, and, finally, Deputy Chief from 2015 to 2021.
Jim helped lead and manage sworn and non sworn training for the 100+ member Grand Forks police department; managed multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional investigations; provided local, regional, and national training on investigative topics; and conducted quality background investigations for prospective employees.
As a valued member of the Diocese of Crookston MRB since 2015, Jim has worked closely with clergy, staff, and others to move through complicated situations and make recommendations to the bishop for action related to critical matters. In Jim’s various law enforcement and volunteer roles, he has worked to assist victims of crimes and other situations. His work has provided leadership in the area of healing for those involved in difficult scenarios.
In addition to being a man of prayer, I consider Jim a servant leader with much energy and enthusiasm. I look forward to all that is to come for this local Church with the addition of Jim as Delegate and his expertise in creating and maintaining safe environments.
In Christ,
The Most Rev. Andrew H. Cozzens, S.T.D., D.D.
Bishop of Crookston
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