210 B Ave. West, Lakota, North Dakota, 58344 Non Emergency # (701) 247-2474
The first Nelson County Sheriff was appointed June 9, 1883. Sheriff Josiah Pierce received $4,000 a year for enforcing the law in Nelson County.
Since that date 22 men have been elected to the Sheriff's position, including the present Sheriff Kelly J. Janke.
Earlier Sheriffs were elected for a two-year term; since 1962 they have served a four-year term.
Sheriffs are now required to have eleven weeks of basic training at the Law Enforcement Training Center in Bismarck and yearly in-service training, plus re-certification to carry sidearms.
Since that date 22 men have been elected to the Sheriff's position, including the present Sheriff Kelly J. Janke.
Earlier Sheriffs were elected for a two-year term; since 1962 they have served a four-year term.
Sheriffs are now required to have eleven weeks of basic training at the Law Enforcement Training Center in Bismarck and yearly in-service training, plus re-certification to carry sidearms.
For Emergencies Dial 911
Sheriffs of Nelson County:
Josiah Pierce / Frank K. McCoy / Oliver Knudson/ Samuel Dahl / Gilbert Jorgenson
Thorvold Sween/ Peter E. Sandlie / C.E. Johnson/ A.H. Smart/ Sandler Peterson
Lewis Bakke/ T.E. Latourette/ M.K. Fjeld / E.T. Swendseid/ Fred Nelson
J.R. Tangen / Martin Lindvig/ B.W. Kabeary/ Lloyd O. Craft / Arthur F. Varty
Dale Quam/ Kelly J. Janke
Thorvold Sween/ Peter E. Sandlie / C.E. Johnson/ A.H. Smart/ Sandler Peterson
Lewis Bakke/ T.E. Latourette/ M.K. Fjeld / E.T. Swendseid/ Fred Nelson
J.R. Tangen / Martin Lindvig/ B.W. Kabeary/ Lloyd O. Craft / Arthur F. Varty
Dale Quam/ Kelly J. Janke
Sheriff Martin Lindvig and Sheriff Fred Nelson were both elected to five terms (not consecutive).
In earlier years the jail was provided behind the old courthouse for county prisoners. The new courthouse has no jail facilities. County prisoners are now boarded at the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center in Devils Lake, ND.
At the present time the Nelson County Sheriff's Department has five full-time employees: Sheriff Kelly J. Janke, Deputy Eric Braathen, Deputy Thomas Stenvold, Deputy Scott Trenda and Office Manager Margo Vasicek.
In earlier years the jail was provided behind the old courthouse for county prisoners. The new courthouse has no jail facilities. County prisoners are now boarded at the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center in Devils Lake, ND.
At the present time the Nelson County Sheriff's Department has five full-time employees: Sheriff Kelly J. Janke, Deputy Eric Braathen, Deputy Thomas Stenvold, Deputy Scott Trenda and Office Manager Margo Vasicek.
