Lincoln County Sheriff Looks Back at His Career

After 20 years behind the badge, the Lincoln County Sheriff is ready to move forward. Dennis Johnson is retiring at the end of 2018. Voters will pick his replacement in November. For now, Johnson doesn't have huge plans for what he will do next.

Actually, he has a better idea of the exact opposite. 

"The one thing I absolutely do not want to do is to get to be too cozy with my recliner," Johnson said. 

Fair enough. He has spent 40 years in law enforcement, and has had a very busy career. Johnson doesn't need a big suitcase to pack up his office 

"My Notre Dame poster is coming with me, I can guarantee that," Johnson said.

His small collection of stuff in his office doesn't match the growth Johnson has seen in Lincoln County in two decades -- that includes more calls and some big crimes.
Johnson was there for two shooting situations in 2015. One was at Sioux Steel in Lennox, and the other was at Harrisburg High School. 

"I would've never dreamed we would've had two active shooters in the county in a span of eight months," Johnson said. 

Before the bigger cases and a staff of more than 20, Johnson started small with only three deputies. The new sheriff did a lot on his own. That includes drive suspects to and from jail.  

"I'd just try to give them a little friendly advice, like get your time done, get out, put it behind you and make a life," Johnson said. 

There's also the time when he caught an attempted murder suspect. He only two pieces of evidence to go on: a red car from a nearby blue state. 

"I went through the Minnesota vehicle records and I looked for and found every red Ford Escort in the state. There's a lot!" 

When Sheriff Johnson retires, he leaves behind a long career in law enforcement. However, he won't need a suitcase to take his favorite part of the job with him when he goes. 

"I'd rather remember the people I kind of helped a little bit," Johnson said. 

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