Steve Och is Todd County's new sheriff.
Steve Och is Todd County's new sheriff.
There's a new sheriff in town
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by Karin L. Nauber
When Steve Och told his dad he wanted to study the field of environmental biology, his dad, being a realist, asked “Where do you think you are going to get a job doing that?”
His exact words were a bit more “colorful,” but Och got the message clearly and thought he probably should expand his schooling options taking his dad’s statement to heart.
“Being in law enforcement was not my first thought, but I had a friend who was a police explorer and he got me interested through that program,” said Och.
“The explorer program gives you the chance to aid law enforcement in certain instances so you can have a chance to test the water,” said Och. “Thirty years later, here I am.”
Instead of going to Bemidji State to pursue the biology degree, he packed his bags and attended Alexandria Technical College’s law enforcement training.
After graduation he was hired for his first job as a part-time police officer for the city of Foley.
“Then 1990 was a big year for me,” said Och. . . .