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The Charles-Mix County Sheriff ’s Department is located in the county seed of Lake Andes and was first established in 1658. The sheriff’s department first began with the appointment of Sheriff Nicholas Gwyther. At the Gwyther was serving as a dual sheriff for both Charles County and Saint Mary County. Sheriff Gwyther was the sole employee of both counties’ sheriff’s offices. Gwyther’s job duties in 1658 included collecting taxes, serving warrants, apprehending criminals and occasionally investigating witchcraft. The Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department has come a very long way from its humble beginnings. The Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department is currently lead by Sheriff Randy Thaler who has seven deputies. Now sheriffs and their deputies are responsible for patrolling assigned areas, responding to emergency calls, conducting investigations, gathering evidence, and enforcing laws and regulations.

National Police Week is observed this year on May 15th through May 21st. This is a week that offers honor, remembrance, and peer support for police officers. As the Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department has taken over the roles and responsibilities of the police department in Lake Andes, they deserve to be honored and recognized for their dedication and hard work to the citizens of Charles-Mix County and Lake Andes. Sheriff for Charles-Mix County is Randy Thaler. Deputies of the Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department are Derik Rolston, Tanner Novak, Jarred Niehus, Cydney Porter, Janet Budavich, Trevor Deurmier and Gage Nelson.

Sheriff Randy Thaler

Sheriff Randy Thaler worked as a deputy for five years for the Charles-Mix County Sheriff ’s Department before running for Sheriff in 2011. Thaler has been the Sheriff for the last 13 years. Thaler had always wanted to go into law enforcement and first entered the Army with the intention of being a part of the military police. What Thaler enjoys about being the sheriff is helping the citizens of Charles-Mix County and the teaching/instructing of personnel in law enforcement. Some of the most challenging aspects of his job are keeping his employees satisfied with wages and being competitive with other law enforcement agencies to retain employees in Charles-Mix County. It can also be difficult when it comes to finding people that want to take on the challenge of being in law enforcement. Thaler is married to his wife, Gin. They have two sons, Ryan and Cody. When Sheriff Thaler is not busy working, he enjoys hunting, fishing and gardening.

Chief Deputy Derik Rolston Chief Deputy Derik Rolston has been a part of the Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department for the past 11 years. Before becoming a deputy, he had worked for the sheriff’s department as a jailer/911 operator and a sheriff’s deputy prior to being promoted to chief deputy. Rolston went into law enforcement because he wanted the opportunity to make a difference in the community by creating a safer environment. One of the aspects that Rolston enjoys about his job is being able to help others in the Lake Andes community where he grew up. Remembering all of the laws that change from year to year is probably the most challenging part of the job for Rolston. Rolston is the father of three daughters and a son. When he is not busy working at the sheriff’s department, he enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing and racing in the summer.

Deputy Sergeant Tanner Novak

Three and a half years is how long Deputy Sergeant Tanner Novak has been a part of the Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department. Before being promoted to the position of deputy sergeant, Novak had been a deputy sheriff for the county. Novak first became interested in law enforcement after seeing some of his friends go into this career field. It appeared to be an exciting job, so when Novak turned 21, he did a ride along and has been a part of law enforcement ever since. Novak enjoys that not every day is the same and being able to help someone when they are in need. For Novak, there are several challenges of the job including keeping up with the ever-changing laws, keeping up on the training and making sure to learn every chance he gets. Even though the job can be challenging, Novak finds it very enjoyable and wants to make his career in law enforcement. He is married with a child on the way. When Novak is not busy working for the sheriff’s department, he enjoys fishing, hunting, and spending his free time in the summer at the racetrack.

Jail Sergeant Jarred Niehus Jail Sergeant Jarred Niehus has been a member of the Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department for the last 13 years. Niehus is also a certified deputy sheriff and taser and firearms instructor. Niehus went into law enforcement as it is a family tradition. His father, Gene Niehus, has been in law enforcement for the past 46 years and Jarred plans on carrying on the family tradition by making his career in law enforcement. One aspect that Niehus really enjoys about his job is getting to be around and interact with different people. For Niehus, one of the challenges of his job is that things change day to day and no two days are the same. Niehus is married with three stepchildren. When he is not busy working for the sheriff’s department, he enjoys spending time on his small hobby farm tending to his horses and cows.

Sergeant Deputy Sheriff Cydney Porter Sergeant Deputy Sheriff Cydney Porter has been a part of the Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department for the past three years. Before coming to Charles-Mix County, Porter had prior experience at Davison and Minnehaha County jail facilities. Porter went into law enforcement because of her life experiences, wanting to better herself and wanting to better the community. The best parts of the job for Porter are being able to talk with people and trying to understand them and their situation. There are many challenging parts to being a deputy sheriff and working in law enforcement. It does take a toll on a person mentally, physically and emotionally. It can be challenging wishing to be able to change or fix things for others, but sometimes not being able to do anything. Going into law enforcement was never Porter’s first choice as a career, but she does believe that she ended up in this career for a reason. Cydney’s family is local to the Charles-Mix County area. She is a daughter, sister, niece and a mother. When she is not working for the department, she enjoys art, drawing, painting, photography, and tattooing. She enjoys being able to do anything that allows her to be creative and create or capture something beautiful.

Deputy Sheriff Jan Budavich Deputy Sheriff Jan Budavich has been a part of the Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department for the past seven years as a deputy sheriff. Budavich knew she wanted to go into law enforcement even as a kid. She most enjoys helping people and being able to serve the community. Even though the sheriff, her fellow deputies and jail staff are all well organized and efficient in their dedication to their jobs, due to the current climate of the justice system, it feels like a revolving door to Budavich. This is a very challenging aspect of the job for her. Budavich continues to arrest the same people for similar crimes. Budavich knows that it is a small portion of community members that she has to interact with negatively in her duties as a deputy sheriff. She enjoys living in the Midwest where the majority of people are good people. Budavich has many family members from different generations that live in Charles-Mix County. When Budavich is not busy working, she enjoys fishing, walking her dogs and being outdoors. Budavich feels lucky to live in this part of South Dakota because of the beautiful landscape.

Deputy Sheriff Trevor Deurmier

Deputy Sheriff Trevor Deurmier has been a part of the Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department for the past three and a half years. Before becoming a deputy sheriff, he worked as a correctional officer for the department for a year. Even at a young age, Deurmier was intrigued by law enforcement. When Deurmier began his career, he shadowed different officers and agencies which gave him the insight to assure himself that this career path would be a good fit for himself, his family and the community. Deurmier enjoys many aspects of his job including getting to travel to different parts of the county and state; each day is different and unique; and being able to help others in need in the area where he lives. The hardest part of the job for Deurmier is working with situations where innocent children are victims of violent crimes or are in accidents. Deputy Sheriff Deurmier sees himself as making a career out of law enforcement. He learns something new each day and he finds it exciting that being in law enforcement is not a routine job. Deurmier is married with two children. When Deurmier is not busy working for the sheriff ’s department, he enjoys hunting, fishing, exploring new places and spending time with his family.

The Charles-Mix County Sheriiff’s Department has had Deputy Sheriff Gage Nelson as a part of its department for the past six years. Before becoming a deputy sheriff, Nelson worked as a jailer. Nelson joined the sheriff’s department because he had always wanted to help his community. For Nelson, it is the wide range of people that he meets and being able to help when he can that make the job enjoyable. Some of the more challenging parts of the job are the hours and the constant ups and downs that every different situation presents. Nelson plans to make his career in law enforcement. He has worked hard to get to where he is and considers this job to be an always changing learning experience. Nelson is from the area as is his family. When he is not busy at the sheriff’s department, Nelson enjoys hiking, camping, being outdoors and listening to Post Malone.

Thank you to the members of the Charles-Mix County Sheriff’s Department for all of your dedication and hard work to the Lake Andes community and Charles-Mix County.