The Last Call, His Gun is Holstered

Missed holidays and missed birthdays of family and friends. Those are just two of the reasons former Phillips County Undersheriff Kevin Metcalf has entered retirement.

Besides that, 24 years of being a target behind a gold star that won't stop a bullet, merits a day or two of time off to do the things in life that the job has kept him from doing.

Kevin signed off on his radio at 4:56 p.m. on Dec. 21, 2022, with a bit of emotion in his voice. When you truly enjoy what you're doing, it is more than "work," and in his occupation there was variety, and an occasional treat dropped off at the dispatch to look forward to.

Hey, whoever proved that donuts are a cop's best friend? In the small community that has trusted Kevin through the years, treats aren't limited to donuts.

Metcalf started his career in law enforcement in August of 1974 working as a Cadet Deputy Sheriff at Ravalli County Sheriff's Office. In his two years there, he worked to develop a program for kids, aged 16 to 18 to learn the duties of law enforcement officers.

He changed boots, jobs, duties, and location when August of 1976 rolled around. For another stint in time he was in the US Army Military Police for a year. He shipped overseas to Korea, with his base being Ft. Hood, Texas.

When June of 1982 rolled over on the calendar, he found himself with the Circle, MT., Police Department. He enjoyed being back on American soil, where the bullets weren't all aiming to find him. His call of duty in Circle was that of a Reserve Officer.

Still loving eastern Montana, he signed onto the Police Department in Glendive. Being in Montana was somewhat less dangerous than waiting for land mines to go off underfoot in a Korean combat zone. He had one address again from October of 2005 until December of 2007. While he was there he was also a Reserve Officer for Dawson County Sheriff's Office. Multitasking was getting to be his specialty about this time in his life.

Time rolls along quite smoothly, and then one day he is asked by Phillips County Sheriff Jerry Lytle to come on board as his deputy. It didn't take much arm twisting and his new address became that of Malta, Montana.

In his file of clippings, certificates, recognition and honors are documentation he accumulated over 1,300 hours of law enforcement schooling. Through his hours spent at a desk, usually made for those of shorter stature, he has earned credentials for Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, Coroner, Instructor, and Command.

On January 1, 2019, Deputy Metcalf became Undersheriff Metcalf and filled that position until his final day of work, December 21.

When asked if he had worked on any unusual cases, he shared about an incident involving a multitude of crimes.

"A suspect had stolen a vehicle in Minnesota and lit it on fire at the local depot," Metcalf said. "The following morning I was able to find the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the wreckage, which is how the car was known to be stolen. The suspect had stolen another car in town, gone to other residences and entered other cars stealing cash, and credit cards. The suspect was tracked down through the card usage – using it in Lewistown and Great Falls.

"He traveled to South Dakota and was arrested after trying to sell the stolen car from Montana to a salvage yard," Metcalf continued.

Makes one wonder if he will appear on one of America's Dumbest Criminals?

Kevin shared he had a case that started with a stolen credit card from a Malta residence. Through contacts, connections, and conversations with law enforcement agencies – the pattern of use was from Malta to New York and Florida. At the Florida site, the card was used for charges for a storage unit. When officials went to the storage unit it was full of a large amount of stolen items, including other stolen credit cards. It ended with several individuals being arrested.

Not all aspects of his job have been enjoyable. Since he started in 2008 until his retirement, he investigated 58 deaths in Phillips County. This amassed statistic earned him the appellation of "The Grim Reaper."

While in his office in Malta, he was asked, tasked, and developed the Field Training Officer program; newly hired officers spend at least four weeks training and doing documentation with the Undersheriff, to prep them prior to attending the Montana Law Enforcement Academy for basic training.

Kevin and his wife, Soni, had two daughters, Michelle and Minni, adding to her family of a son and daughter (Mandi). Soni died of a heart condition in 2006. Kevin then married Jennifer and became stepdad to her two sons, Phillip and Tanner, who both live in Malta. Jennifer also passed away. Metcalf has siblings, Bruce and Terri, who live in Saco. A sister Jeri, and her husband live in Washington.

Now that he no longer answers an alarm clock, he plans to spend time at his cabin in the east fork of the Bitterroot, south of Hamilton. It's in his planning book to spend more time with Mandi (who lives in Idaho), and Minni and Michelle, who reside In Arizona. He has nine grandchildren that will get to enjoy knowing their grandpa. He can hear the call of the wildlife waiting for hunting season, and has plans to catch fish or drown minnows trying.

Other reasons for retiring...in case you haven't guessed yet, "It's time for a younger, stronger, faster Undersheriff to help improve the agency." (Those 24 years of experience appear to have made him at least wiser!)

In his future plans are completing his cabin in the mountains, and spending time with his life partner, Bonnie Sanderson.

In leaving, Metcalf shared words once shared with him by an old-time Sheriff he worked with back in the 70's.

"You need to treat people like you would like to be treated." Metcalf said. "That is good, sound advice for everyone as they walk along the path of life. As the saying goes: when you can be anything...be kind."

11-2...you have finished your call of duty for Phillips County.

Have an enjoyable next chapter in your life, Kevin.