This past winter was a rough one for most in this neck of the woods. But for law enforcement and other emergency responders, it was extra difficult. Marshall County Sheriff Sam Swanson estimates that for every blizzard the area saw, and there were many, he and his deputies responded to four or five stranded or stuck motorists. Recently, Swanson was recognized in a small way for helping a specific motorist.
During a blizzard around Valentine’s Day, South Dakota Highway Patrolman Devin Olson who lives in Britton was sweeping a stretch of the closed Interstate 29. After he completed his sweep, he headed back to Britton in some very dicey conditions.
“At times I was driving four miles per hour, just trying to figure out where the road was,” Olson noted. When he got just west of Lake City, near the old Charlie’s restaurant, the patrolman ran into a five-foot drift in the road. He soon found his patrol car stuck in the snow.
Olson was in a pickle. He called his commander, trying to figure out what to do. He absolutely needed to get home to Britton. His wife Autumn was 38 weeks pregnant. Olson put a call into Sheriff Swanson, who lives not far away. Swanson did not hesitate to answer the call.
“The sheriff pulled me out of the drift with his pickup,” said Olson, “but then I immediately got stuck again.” Swanson pulled the car out another time. The pair looked up Highway 10, and it became clear that Olson wouldn’t make it back to town himself.
At that point, Swanson decided to blaze a trail for the patrolman to follow, all the way back to Britton. “It took us an hour and a half to get to town, but we made it,” said Swanson.
It was a hairy situation and Olson considers himself lucky that the sheriff was there to help. “He definitely saved my butt that night,” emphasized Olson, who also added that such selflessness is characteristic of the sheriff.
“Sam’s just that guy. He will never hesitate to help someone who needs it. Even though we work for different agencies, he counts me as one of his guys, and I’m lucky for that,” said Olson.
For aiding Trooper Olson, Sheriff Swanson was recently presented with a challenge coin from the South Dakota Highway Patrol. A challenge coin typically bears a group’s emblem or insignia and is a prized possession of members of that group. They are common amongst the military and now also law enforcement and fire departments. Receiving a challenge coin is considered an honor.
For his part, Swanson is pretty humble about the whole incident. “They gave me an award for just doing my job,” he commented. Yet, even if it’s all in a day’s work, Olson and others consider themselves fortunate that Sheriff Swanson has their backs.
