In an interview with KSFY's Drew Sandholm, Hanson County Sheriff Mark Kessler talks about how he got started in law enforcement, what makes the job worthwhile, and his most memorable case. Here's how it went:

KSFY: You have been in the Mitchell area a long time. Tell me how you started as a law enforcement officer?

KESSLER: It was during college when I was at Black Hills State University. I had an uncle on the Spearfish Police Department and I basically got a start there as a reserve officer. I had gained my reserve certification under Chief Rick Mowell and his staff and after graduating from college, I went to the Mitchell Police Department in 1991, in the fall. I spent approximately nine years with the Mitchell Police Department. Subsequently, later on becoming sheriff of Hanson County right next door.

KSFY: And what's it like as sheriff in Hanson County? Tell me about that.

KESSLER: It can be a lot of long hours. There's never a dull moment. The phone usually doesn't quit ringing. There usually always something to do. Even though it's a smaller county, there's typically activity 24 hours a day.

KSFY: And some of that different activity could mean any number of different things, I guess, but what's your most memorable case you've worked on?

KESSLER: I would have to say the Jessica Delatorre case. A little girl from Sioux Falls, who was murdered by the grandmother's boyfriend and the reason is, I have children. Many of us having children and it hits a nerve, really hard, when you have to experience something like that.

KSFY: How do you distance yourself from some of those different types of emotional cases or even pull up on a fatal accident, something like that. Must be tough.

KESSLER: It is tough. The Lord, our God always has a plan for us in one way or another and all we can do is hope for the best. Hold our children when we get home and learn to compartmentalize and move on.

KSFY: So what makes it worthwhile?

KESSLER: It's a lot of rewarding work when our clearance rate has been as high as 44% of clearing our cases and being able to tell somebody that we solved their crime, their report that they made with us, is extremely gratifying.

KSFY: Very good. Well, thank you for the work that you do. I appreciate it and thanks for coming to spin the Wheel of Justice this week.

KESSLER: You betcha. Thanks.

Make sure to check out the Wheel of Justice every Friday night Live at 10:00.