Ryan Remmers Bio

Ryan Remmers        Assistant Chief Ryan Remmers was born and raised in Watertown, South Dakota and is a graduate of Watertown High School. Ryan also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in “Sociology with a Criminal Justice Emphasis” from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He began his career in Law Enforcement as a volunteer Reserve Officer with the Watertown Police Department in 1997. Ryan started full-time with the WPD in 1999. In April of 2000, Ryan graduated with top honors receiving the Coler-Williams Award at the Law Enforcement Training Academy’s basic certification class in Pierre, South Dakota. He became a Field Training Officer in 2002 and was an active member of the department’s Bicycle Patrol and SWAT team.
        Ryan was promoted to Sergeant in 2006, and as part of his duties supervised a Patrol Division squad and managed the department’s Field Training Program. Ryan was promoted to Captain in January of 2008 and was assigned to the Administrative Services Division, where his responsibilities included managing the department's 911 center and records office, conducting internal investigations, coordinating the field training program, and managing the budget. In late 2009, Ryan was transferred to the Criminal Investigative Division, where he managed the department's crime prevention programs and supervised the school resource officers and detectives.
        In 2011, Ryan was transferred to the newly created Professional Standards division, where his responsibilities included training, grant writing and research, monthly and annual statistical reports, and  internal investigations.  During that same time, Ryan created and coordinated the WPD's first ever Citizens' and Teen Police Academies.  In June of 2019, Ryan was transferred to the Support Services Division, where he managed the 911 Center, the Records Office, and facility maintenance.
        In April 2021, Ryan was promoted to Assistant Chief where he currently supervises the Administrative, Criminal Investigative, and Patrol Divisions along with managing the Records Office.  In the fall of 2022, Ryan received a Master Certificate upon graduation from the Professional Development Academy's High Performance Leadership program.
        Ryan and his wife Sherri enjoy the friendly atmosphere and lifestyle that Watertown provides, and find that it is a great place to raise their four children.

Ryan's Community Involvement:

  • United Way Board of Directors, President
  • Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities
  • Watertown D.A.S.H. Steering Committee
  • Watertown Area Point of Dispensing – Planning Section Chief
  • Watertown Flood Response Team – Planning Section Chief
  • Citizens’ Police Academy – Creator and Manager
  • Teen Police Academy – Creator and Manager
  • Boys’ and Girls’ Club – Parent Advisory Committee, Youth of the Year Judge, Guest Speaker
  • Watertown School District – Classroom Speaker and Reader
  • Watertown Crime Free Multi-Housing Program – Program Manager
  • Financial Peace University – Assistant Facilitator, Cornerstone Church
  • Local Youth Athletics – Volunteer Coach and Official
  • NorthStar District Committee, Boy Scouts of America – Explorer Chair
  • Codington County TRIAD – Vice Chairman
  • Watertown Loss Prevention Coalition – Program Creator and Manager
  • Lake Area Child Protection Team
  • Community Sexual Assault Response Team