michael w. varilek

Deputy Sheriff/Patrol Sergeant - K-9 Handler/Drug Recognition Expert/Task Force Officer

Corson County (South Dakota) Sheriff’s Office

Mike is a Patrol Sergeant for the Corson County Sheriff's Office in North Central South Dakota where he is currently a member of the North Central South Dakota Multi-Jurisdiction Criminal Enforcement Team (NCSD MJCET), a multi-jurisdiction team made up of eight counties spanning over 11,400 square miles, which travels from county-to-county conducting criminal enforcement operations.  Until recently, Mike also served as a full-time Task Force Officer for the FBI-Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Mike has been a certified Law Enforcement Officer in South Dakota since 2006, Narcotic Detector Dog Handler since 2009, and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) since 2017.  Mike also holds certifications as an Interdiction Officer under the National Criminal Enforcement Association (NCEA), Search & Seizure Instructor for Blue to Gold Legal, LLC., and Law Enforcement R.A.D.A.R. Instructor.  

In addition to his law enforcement duties, Mike serves as the Director of Emergency Management for Corson County, achieving certification as Advanced Certified Emergency Manager, and has served in various leadership capacities within his local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge.  

Since beginning his career in 2006, Mike has conducted thousands of traffic stops and consensual encounters which have resulted in countless drug, weapon, impaired driving, and wanted person arrests.  Mike has personally seized in excess of $3,250,000.00 in contraband and criminal proceeds, all while working two-lane highways and byways.  

 Course Topics: Criminal Interdiction, Criminal Patrol in Rural Areas, Roadside Interviews