The Associated Press
GARRETSON, S.D. (AP) -- Ronnie Thallas has just returned home from military duty. And, thanks to Garretson’s voters, he still has his job.
After Thallas was called up to active military duty in Washington State, Garretson held an election in October on whether to keep the city’s police department. Seventy-one percent of the voters decided to keep the department.
Thallas said it was tough being away while his future was being decided but that he’s pleased with the result.
“It was stressful for me. I had faith in the public of the town, I believed we were producing the right type of product for a small town and doing what the citizens and the city council of Garretson want,” he said.
Thallas said many people have welcomed him home.
“It was important to me to be back and show that I was ready and thankful. A lot of people stopped by City Hall or stopped me and either shook my hand and welcomed me back and some people even stopped by City Hall and hugged me,” he said.
Federal law says Thallas still would have had a job even if the voters had scrapped the police department. The city would have had to find another job with equal pay for him.