Behind the Thin Blue Line

Richard D. Blackwelder (better known as “Blackie”) was born in 1953 in South Dakota. My parents moved all over the United States, because my father was in the Navy. After my father (Robert S. Blackwelder, Sr.) retired from the navy, our family moved to Breckenridge, Minnesota. I graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1972 and then received my Law Enforcement Degree at Alexandria Area Vocational Technical Institute in 1974. On March 1, 1974, I joined the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office as a road deputy. I was to be stationed in Canby, but there were no apartments or houses to rent. So I lived in a motel in Clarkfield for six weeks, when I finally was able to move to Canby. In October 1974 I was married to Linda J. Koenen (Clara City, MN). We raised three sons in Canby and family makes life a lot more interesting. My wife and sons had to put up with my crazy work hours. It wasn’t always easy to attend my son’s school functions, but I tried to be at as many as I could. In 1983 I was appointed Chief-Deputy by Sheriff Richard Rollins. This again changed my life, in a good way. Although I was on call a lot, I was able to go onto all day shifts. This meant I was able to be with my family a lot more. When you’re in law enforcement, you wonder what your children are going to be like when they grow up. I saw some law enforcement officer’s kids who turned out not so good. So I wondered would my kids accept me being in Law Enforcement or resent it? My three sons made my wife and me proud. Chris (my oldest son) works for Rosenbauer America in Lyons South Dakota. Rosenbauer America produces a full line of fire apparatus, including tankers, rescue vehicles, aerials and specialty vehicles around the world. He is the head of the IT Department. Matthew (my middle son) lived in Milbank, South Dakota and worked as a Dispatcher/Jailer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and a Reserve Police Officer for the Milbank Police Department. He then moved to Watertown, South Dakota to work for the Codington County Detention Center. He is the work release supervisor at the Detention Center. Jeremy (my youngest son) went to Alexandria Technical Institute (where I attended school) and graduated with a Law Enforcement Degree. He joined the Upper Sioux Police Department, where he worked with his canine partner “Nitro”. He then went to Hamline University School of Law and is currently an attorney in Granite Falls, Minnesota. As a father, I couldn’t be more proud of my sons. Just ask my friends.... I brag about them all the time. February 29, 2008, I retired from the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office. I wouldn’t trade those thirty four years for anything. It wasn’t just a job, it was my life. I would have worked for no pay, but like everyone else, I had to pay bills. When I worked, I was proud of the Sheriff’s Office and when I retired, I was proud to know it was left in good hands. My retirement party was a great night. The Master of Ceremonies (Brian West) did an outstanding job and there were a lot of friends there. There were so many people attending, I didn’t get to talk to all of them. It was such a great feeling, seeing everyone there. When I look back at all the years I worked for the YMC Sheriff’s Office, I remember all those I worked with (Law Enforcement and Dispatcher/Jailers). When you retire, you miss everyone you worked with and all the citizens around the county. I’m lucky - I still go back to the YMC Sheriff’s Office to visit and have lunch with my friends.