Newly retired sheriff to sit back, for a bit

• Image

Press Photo by Ashley Martin Recently appointed Dunn County Sheriff Don Rockvoy, left, shakes hands with Larry Boepple, former Dunn County sheriff, at Boepple’s retirement open house in Manning Tuesday.

Talk about it

MANNING — People poured into the Dunn County Courthouse here Tuesday packing in tightly to celebrate the 22 years Larry Boepple was Dunn County sheriff.

Guests traveled from all over the county, as well as from neighboring counties to congratulate Boepple on his retirement.

After doing maintenance and police work for Halliday, Boepple was appointed sheriff on Jan. 15, 1987.

He chose to retire due to medical issues and Don Rockvoy took over as Dunn County sheriff on Wednesday.

Dunn County Commission members appointed Rockvoy, who was a Dunn County deputy, on June 3.

Boepple said he is going to miss the people from county departments most in his retirement.

“I’ve had a great working relationship with cities and counties and they’ve been very helpful,” he said. “I’ll miss some of the people.”

He plans to stick around the Killdeer area.

“This is home,” Boepple said.

Cliff Ferebee, commission chairman, said he voted to appoint Rockvoy because he trusted the hiring committee’s judgment.

“Sheriffs from adjoining counties went through the interviewing process and that was their recommendation,” Ferebee said. “All the candidates were very strong candidates.”

Before joining the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department at the end of March, Rockvoy was a deputy in Bottineau County for over three years. Before then, he worked at a grain elevator.

“I haven’t been in law enforcement very long, but law enforcement is something that I’ve wanted to be in all my life,” Rockvoy said.

Rockvoy is excited about his new position.

“Dunn County is a lot like Bottineau County where the people are friendly,” he said. “I like it here … the people are great.”

He doesn’t plan to make any major changes.

“Larry left this county in very good condition and it’s going to be an easy transition,” Rockvoy said. “I’m just going to see what takes place in the days and weeks to come.”

Rockvoy said he needs to hire a few deputies and do some upgrading.

He will also focus on keeping the officers trained.

As for Boepple, he will look for part-time employment down the road, but for now, he’s going to take time off.

“I’m just going to sit back and do projects at home that I’ve been putting off for years,” he said.

Tags: news, local, dunn, county, sheriff