SD Sheriff Fires Deputy Who Defeated Him in Election

Bon Homme County (SD) Sheriff Lenny Gramkow lost his re-election bid by a vote of 878-331 in Tuesday's Republican primary election. The man who defeated him was Deputy Sheriff Mark Maggs. There was no Democrat nominee in the race. Consequently, Maggs will begin his four-year term as sheriff in January 2019.

In the meantime, Maggs is unemployed, because precisely one minute after voting results were made public, Gramkow fired Maggs. He did so via social media.

“Mark Maggs: This letter is to inform you that effective immediately you are terminated from the position of deputy sheriff for Bon Homme County. As of this moment you are no longer an employee of Bon Homme county. Please turn in all equipment belonging to Bon Homme County by 5 p.m. on June 6, 2018. Signed Lenny Gramkow, Bon Homme County Sheriff.”

South Dakota law allows for employers to fire employees without cause, so Gramkow’s termination appears to be legal.