In a cramped, dimly-lit office in the back of the Shepherd Community Building, a black and white flag with a single blue stripe hangs on a wall beside letters of recommendation, certifications, and gleaming mementos.

The Shepherd Police Chief, though materially residing in his office, is always within the community to some degree.

”I’m very community-centered,” said Sawyer. ”We protect and serve, we are supposed to be here for the community.”

The Chief also spends his time as Chairman of the Board of the Child Advocacy Center, and recently held a benefit auction at the Bird Bar and Grill, which raised several thousand dollars for the Center.

He is also a regular sight in and around Shepherd Schools, teaching safety and community courses, high-fiving students, and just generally patrolling.

”Safety is my number one priority,” said Sawyer. ”I always hold safety in the highest priority. And second is community.”

With the recent proposal of the George Floyd reform bill, there would come many changes to how the Chief would run his station; the biggest change coming is a mandated universal training reform for all officers, part-time and full-time.

Trainings are presently only mandated for full-time officers, and the change would cause small town police departments to pay much more than they presently do to train their officers.

The average cost to train an officer at the academy ranges from $5-10 thousand dollars, and that certification still does not guarantee them a full-time position.

In small town communities like Shepherd, a shortage of officers is imminent. With struggling budgets and a heavy reliance on part-time officers, Sawyer says he expects many of his officers to seek employment elsewhere.

“I fully support them if that’s what it comes down to,” said Sawyer. ”We’ll make do, we just have to stay strong.”

The budgetary requirements may see some layoffs in the future, but immediately, his concerns are irrevocably how he is able to serve the community.

”When I’m out patrolling, I’m not out to get people,” said Sawyer. “I’m not out to hurt people’s futures, I’m not out to put people in jail. I’m out patrolling to keep my community, my family, safe. And if I have to put someone away to keep my family safe, I’ll do that.”