CANTON, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Long-serving Lincoln County Sheriff Dennis Johnson says he will retire at the end of 2018 after over 40 years in law enforcement.
He's been Sheriff in the fast-growing county for 20 years, so has seen a lot of changes, including a growing work load:
"Sometimes it seems like we get more calls in a day that we used to in a week," Sheriff Johnson says with a chuckle.
When Johnson was first elected Sheriff back in 1999, he had three deputies. Now, he has 19 full timers and some part time help. He used to do all the paperwork back then, but than things "just got bigger."
There was no particular reason he decided to hang up the badge.
"I guess I just decided that enough was enough. 41 years was enough."
He hasn't decided yet what he will do in retirement, but he knows what he won't do.
"I really don't have anything specific in mind. The one thing I don't want to do is get too friendly with my recliner."