Grant County

Sheriff

The Sheriff is responsible for maintaining peace and order throughout the county and has the authority to call on local resources when needed. The Sheriff must pursue and arrest individuals charged with serious crimes, and to carry out court orders, warrants, and other legal directives.

The Sheriff also works closely with various law enforcement agencies and other partners to help ensure public safety across Grant County.

This is an elected position with a four-year term. The Grant County Sheriff’s Department includes six full-time deputies, an administrative assistant, and a team of five full-time and part-time dispatchers and jailers. Many of the duties handled by the Sheriff’s Office are defined by state law.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigate crimes and accidents
• Serve arrest warrants within the county
• Transport prisoners to prison and court hearings
• Transport referrals to the Human Services Center in Yankton
• Enforcement of court decisions
• Register sex offenders within the county and ensure compliance
• Provide security for the court
• Administer the 24/7 program

Grant County Jail

The Grant County Sheriff operates a detention facility for pre-trial hold, locally sentenced prisoners and work release prisoners. As space permits, the facility serves other jurisdictions.

911

In an emergency, dial 911 for immediate help with law enforcement, fire, or medical services. Please do not use 911 for non-emergency or routine matters.

All 911 calls in Grant County are answered by the Watertown dispatch center. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office maintains radio and pager systems, repeaters, and sirens to ensure reliable communication between dispatch, local law enforcement, fire departments, and ambulance services.

Since most 911 calls now come from cell phones, residents are encouraged to enable GPS on their devices. This can help emergency responders locate you if you’re unable to speak or unsure of your location.

24/7 Program

This court-ordered program offers an alternative to jail for individuals facing alcohol- or drug-related offenses. Participants may be required to take part in daily alcohol testing using a portable breath tester (PBT) or wear an ankle monitor that continuously tracks blood alcohol levels.

But this is more than just a monitoring program—it’s a commitment to helping repeat DUI and drug offenders change their behavior and avoid future arrests. The ultimate goal is simple: to support each participant in maintaining sobriety 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.