Pat West
Pat West is the sitting Meade County Sheriff, sworn in January 2023. He spent 22 years with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), retiring as a Supervisory Special Agent — including 15 years as the DCI Rally Task Force Commander, directing major-crimes investigations during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Before DCI he began his career in 1992 as a patrolman with the Deadwood Police Department. He is a graduate of the South Dakota Law Enforcement Academy, a certified Law Enforcement Instructor who helped develop curriculum at the National Forensic Academy in Knoxville, and served as President of the South Dakota DCI Agents Association from 2009 to 2017.
Why they’re
Sensible
West is the rare sheriff who knows the job from every angle: 1992 Deadwood PD patrolman, 22 years with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation as a Supervisory Special Agent, and 15 years running major-crimes investigations through Sturgis Rally weeks as DCI Rally Task Force Commander. His statewide leadership earned him the 2015 South Dakota Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award and the presidency of the South Dakota DCI Agents Association (2009–2017). Sworn in as Meade County Sheriff in 2023, he has prioritized local-level drug enforcement, launched an annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Picnic that has raised $22,000+ for Meade County Cares (supporting deputies in crisis and underprivileged kids), and brought the calm operational discipline a Rally county requires. As of the March filing deadline he is running unopposed for re-election in 2026.
Key positions
“We are proud to host this event to honor our first responders and support a vital cause in Meade County.”
“Theft and fraud have an impact on all citizens in our County. The choices made by some people cost all of us.”
“Part of our title is to police the police. During these officer-involved shootings, we make sure everything is documented, identified and taken care of in extreme detail.”