Chad Mechels

End of Watch: 3/15/2009

Thirty-two-year-old Chad Mechels was responding to a well being call at a home west of Marion.

That's when authorities say 19-year-old Ethan Johns of Marion shot Mechels in front of the home.

Chad started his carreer as a probation officer and then joined the Lake County S.O. before moving to Kingsbury County S.O.

Chad started with the Turner County Sheriff's Department in October 2008.

He leaves behind a wife and 2 children.

 Ryan McCandless                                          Nick Armstrong

Officer Nick Armstrong and Officer J. Ryan McCandless were shot and killed as they and another officer questioned four suspicious subjects at the intersection of East Anamosa and Greenbriar Streets at about 4:30 pm on August 2, 2011.

After several minutes a male subject in the group pulled out a concealed handgun and opened fire, striking all three officers before being wounded by return fire. The subject was shot and fatally wounded.

All three officers were transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Officer McCandless was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital, and Officer Nick Armstrong succumbed to his wounds five days later.

Officer McCandless had served with the Rapid City Police Department for six years. He is survived by his fiancée.

Officer Armstrong had served with the Rapid City Police Department for two years and was assigned to the Street Crimes Unit. He had previously served two years with the Spearfish Police Department.