Deputy Jake McGrath

Deputy Jake McGrath came from Hill City to Webster in 1997, graduating from Webster High School in 1998. He joined the Webster Police Department in 2002 and moved over to the Day County Sheriff’s Office in 2007. He is currently the Senior Deputy with the Sheriff’s Office.

While working in Law Enforcement, Jake has gone through a lot of training and continues to attend as many classes as he can. He instructs PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics) at the Law Enforcement Academy and really enjoys getting on the mats with the new recruits. Jake also instructs Firearms and Less Lethal/Non-Deadly Force Tactics. Since 2007, he has also taught DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) at Webster Elementary School.

In addition to the instructor certificates, Jake is also certified in Basic and Advanced Crime Scene Investigation, SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), Surveillance, and Crisis Negotiation. Jake enjoys the close-knit community that is present in Day County and the way that neighbors always help neighbors.

“Day County has something special about it. The people truly care about each other. It is unlike anywhere else I have been.”
-Jake McGrath

Chief Deputy Jim Houser

Jim Houser started working for the Day County Sheriff's Office in January 2008. He came to Day County from the Kingsbury County Sheriff's Office. Jim brings with him over 30 years of law enforcement experience. His career in law enforcement began in 1977 when he became a military policeman in the United States Army. He served for 11 years with the Army before he got out of the service. He served in several positions with the MP's including patrolman, investigator, patrol supervisor, desk sergeant, squad leader, and assistant platoon sergeant.

After Jim left the service, he worked for a short time in a lumber mill before accepting a job with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. Jim worked in the Pierce County Jail for 10 years. Jim served as a line officer, classification officer, field training officer, safety officer, and an acting sergeant on several occasions.

In 1999, Jim moved to South Dakota, and in 2001 was certified as a Police Reserve Officer in Minnehaha County. Jim worked with both Sioux Falls PD and the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office until he accepted two part time positions as a police officer for the City of Canton and the City of Parkston. After attending the state law enforcement academy, Jim accepted a full time position as a deputy sheriff with Kingsbury County in January 2004. He worked there until the opportunity arose to move to Day County and work with Deputy Jake McGrath. Jim and Jake had been in the academy together and had become good friends. In August of 2010, Jim will be finished with his Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and plans to start his Masters Degree. In July 2009, Jim was promoted to Chief Deputy of the Day County Sheriff's Office.Since working in Day County, he has became a certified instructor of DARE, Radar, and Lidar.