Don Hedrick

Don Hedrick began his law enforcement career with the Rapid City Police Department in 2002 as a patrol officer. Over the next two decades, he steadily rose through the ranks—serving as Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Support Services Captain, and Assistant Chief—before being appointed Rapid City’s Chief of Police in 2020.

A 2014 graduate of the FBI National Academy, Chief Hedrick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Dakota Wesleyan University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Dakota. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate at Johns Hopkins University with a research focus on violence reduction.

Chief Hedrick has contributed to key state and national initiatives, including service on the joint U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Justice Not Invisible Act Commission and the board of Leadership South Dakota. Within the community and profession, he currently serves on the executive board for the Rapid City Club for Boys and the legislative committee of the South Dakota Police Chiefs’ Association.