“Legend in law enforcement” Rep Johnson details choice to invite Custer County Sheriff to state of the union

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) -Congressman Dusty Johnson has tapped Custer County Sheriff Marty Mechaley to be his guest for President Trump’s state of the union address. 

Sheriff Marty Mechaley has been in law enforcement since 1993 as the chief of Bison South Dakota’s police force. He then went on to work as a detective in Aberdeen. 

Mechaley’s post as sheriff of Custer county began in 2017 when he was appointed to the position. He would go on to be elected the following year. 

Congressman Johnson told KOTA Territory news Thursday when asked why he decided to tap Mechaley for an invite: 

“Marty is a legend in law enforcement, the other sheriffs and his community respect him so much,” said Johnson. “And I think it’s important for our country to hear. What is that like when you’ve got somebody on the front lines and his deputies are on the front lines trying to keep a rural part of our country safe. He understands the power of a secure border. He understands the evil of meth and fentanyl and how they’re poisoning our communities. And he understands how do you conduct police work in a way that brings a community closer together rather than divides it? This is the guy that I knew was gonna be able to tell that story” 

Sheriff Mechaley said in a press release: 

“I am greatly honored and deeply appreciative to have been invited by Representative Dusty Johnson to attend the State of the Union,” Mechaley went on to say, “I hope to hear some of the success stories and the work that has gone into securing our border, especially knowing how crucial it is for reducing the flow of illegal narcotics into our country. Visiting Washington, D.C. has only strengthened my pride in being an American.