Staff

Sheriff Andy Howe is a long time resident of Vermillion, SD.  He graduated from both the Vermillion High School and the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.  He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and is the Quartermaster of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3061 and a past Post Commander.  He has been employed at the Clay County Sheriff's Office since 1988 and has held every position from Jailer, Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant, and Chief Deputy prior to his election to Sheriff in 2002.  Sheriff Howe is a member of the Executive Board of the South Dakota Sheriff's Association and enjoys his participation in several community service organizations.  Contact Sheriff Howe at ahowe@claysheriff.org

Chief Deputy Jerami West began his law enforcement career in 1998 when he became a corrections officer with the Clay County Jail.  In 2000, he was promoted to Deputy Sheriff and was promoted to Sergeant in 2003.  He became Chief Deputy in 2005.  Jerami is a firearms instructor, a Police Training Officer and a  Rapid Response to Active Shooter Instructor. In his off duty time, Jerami volunteers as a South Dakota Hunt Safe Instructor and is a 4H certified Archery and Pistol coach and is a member of the Coyote Country Rodeo Club. While serving in the United States Navy, he earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. Contact Chief Deputy West at  jwest@claysheriff.org

Deputy Jeff Anders started his career with the Clay County Sheriff's Office in November, 1999 as a Corrections Officer in the Clay County Jail.  On October, 2002, he was promoted to Deputy Sheriff.  Deputy Anders received an associate’s degree in Police Science from Western Iowa Technical Community College in Sioux City, IA.  In 2005, he became a certified DARE instructor and teaches DARE in Vermillion and Wakonda Schools.  Deputy Anders is a certified Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) instructor and a Firearms Training Simulator (FATS) instructor for the Sheriff's Office.  He also teaches Defensive Driving to the community.  His hobbies include golf, fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family.  Contact Deputy Anders at janders@claysheriff.org

Deputy Paul Pederson has been with the Clay County Sheriff's Office since September, 1999.  Prior to that, he was the Chief of Police in Irene, SD for one and one half years.  Deputy Pederson is a certified DARE instructor and is a department Firearms Instructor.  His primary assignment is as the School Resource Officer (SRO) for the Vermillion and Wakonda Public Schools as well as St. Agnes Elementary School in Vermillion.  In addition to his duties as SRO, Deputy Pederson assists with all other duties of the Sheriff's Office.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota in Criminal Justice.  He enjoys officiating youth and adult sports for the community.  In his free time, Deputy Pederson enjoys playing golf, downhill skiing, singing karaoke, and spending time with family and friends.  He has also been a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve since January, 1999 and was deployed in 2005 to Kuwait to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Contact Deputy Pederson at ppederson@claysheriff.org

Deputy Aaron Armstrong began seeking a career in law enforcement in 2004 when he enrolled in Western Iowa Tech's Police Science Technology Program. In 2006 he obtained an Associates of Applied Science degree from WIT and continued his studies though Bellevue University. Over the summer of 2008, he worked as an intern with the Sioux City Iowa Police Department. In 2009 he graduated from Bellevue with a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration. In 2010 he began working as a Deputy Sheriff with the Clay County Sheriff's Office. When off duty, he enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as participating in various outdoor activities and sports. Contact Deputy Armstrong at aarmstrong@claysheriff.org

Deputy David Kyte started his Law Enforcement career with the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office in Sioux City, IA in 2006.  In 2008 David joined the Vermillion Police Department as a Police Officer and then joined the Clay County Sheriff’s Office in 2011.  David received his Law Enforcement degree from Western Iowa Tech in 2006.  David is trained in Clandestine Lab Awareness and Safety and is also a Taser instructor.  Deputy Kyte is a lifelong resident of Clay County, SD and is a graduate of Vermillion High School.  In his off duty time David enjoys spending time with his daughter.   Contact Deputy Kyte at dkyte@claysheriff.org

Michael Smith began his career as a Part Time Jailer at the Clay County Jail while attending the University of South Dakota in 2010.  This experience along with his education at USD made him an excellent candidate for promotion to Deputy Sheriff in 2012.  Michael is originally from Belgrade, Montana but now lives in Vermillion with his family.  Contact Deputy Smith at msmith@claysheriff.org

Noah Umscheid was born in Wyoming and raised in Mitchell, South Dakota. He joined the Army as a Cavalry Scout in 2003. He completed three tours in Iraq. Once, he completed his service, he attended the University of South Dakota and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 2012. He started working as a part time jailer at the Clay County Jail in 2013. Noah became a full time jailer in 2015. Noah was promoted to Deputy Sheriff in 2016. Noah enjoys spending his off time with family and friends.