You are known for not only your great leadership as the Sheriff of Cook County, but also for your amazing vocal abilities.  Can you tell us how you got started singing and playing guitar?  

I started playing guitar when I was 15. I never really sang much, I just wanted to be a guitar player. I started singing out of necessity and drawing the short straw when we put a band together and nobody else wanted to be a singer. 

Who inspired you?  

One of my greatest inspirations would be Eddie Van Halen, but there are so many others that it’s difficult to name them all. I knew I wanted to play guitar in a band as soon as I heard Van Halen, AC/DC Back In Black and Judas Priest British Steel. Those records were so guitar driven, raw and powerful that I was absolutely hooked on hard rock and heavy metal music. I have influences from those genres, but I also listen to country music, top 40 pop music, artists ranging from Butcher Babies to Ed Sheeran and Jason Isbell to Lady Gaga. I don’t like putting my musical tastes in a box anymore because there are just too many good artists out there that you will miss out on if you limit yourself to a few genres. 

For anyone interested in booking with you, how do they go about doing so? 

You can call or text 218-370-0188, or message me through Facebook on my page Pat Eliasen Musician. 

You know we have to ask this one:  Favorite band and favorite song?  

My favorite band will always be Van Halen, but my favorite song would probably be anything that catches my ear at any given time. 

What does Valerie, your wife, enjoy the most when you play for her? 

She says that all of the songs I play are fantastic, but I think contractually she is required to say that. There is a song that I usually play for her at my shows by Jonathan Rhys Meyers called “This Time”. It is from the soundtrack of the motion picture August Rush. 

You have a great new recruitment video for your open positions that shows so much about life up north.  There are numerous things to attract new residents to Cook County.  What are some of your favorite go-to spots or activities that you enjoy on your days off? 

Anywhere outside. We fish a ton, whether it’s on Devil Track where we live or one of the other lakes that are surrounding us. We go on day trips into the BWCA just to fish and get away. We spend time hiking and exploring places that we pick out on maps that may have historical significance. We also play a lot of golf. In the fall we hunt and fish some more. In the winter we cross country ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, and fish.  

Who or what inspired you to work in Law Enforcement?  

I’m not sure what inspired me to work in law enforcement specifically. I always thought it would just be a really cool job and something that I felt that I was built for. 

During the tough times, such as when we hear about the loss of your fellow officers, what motivates you to keep going? 

I will admit, there have been times when it has been difficult to continue with this profession and you feel very discouraged. I grew up here, I have been working for the Sheriff’s Office for over 29 years. I am invested in Cook County; I feel ownership and a sense of pride for what this office has done for the people of Cook County. So, when you consider leaving because times are difficult, you need to ask yourself why you entered this career originally. The majority of us did it to help others and if we leave, who will step up and do that?  

How do you handle the daily stress that comes with the job? 

I play music, I exercise, I have a wonderful wife who is in tune with my moods and can tell when I might be struggling with something.  

How do you practice self-care when your career focuses so much on taking care of others? 

Honestly, that has been very difficult for me. I have struggled with this for a long time, and I was finally able to build a network of people that I could use a sounding boards for any issues I began to grapple with. Self-awareness is the best tool you can have as long as it leads to self-care. 

Do you have a fond memory of a happy outcome that never left your mind over the years that you can share with us? 

I can’t think of a specific instance, there have been many.

What is the best advice you were ever given and how did it impact your life to this day? 

Listening is your best tool. Let people talk, they reveal themselves and all you have to do is make them comfortable. This has helped me in many instances to learn about people that I have just met, to understand someone so I can communicate better with them, and to prepare for a future conversation. 

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To learn more about job opportunities at the Cook County MN Sheriff's Office, follow this link.