Aug. 23, 2022

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Maria Munkvold, deputy sheriff detective at the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office.

Name: Maria Munkvold

Age: 32

Hometown: Kings Beach and West Sacramento, California

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

The opportunity to get into the field of law enforcement.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

The community – it’s such a great place to build your career and raise a family. Also, I met my husband here.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite thing about my job is honestly being able to help people – in good times and in bad. Life circumstances are not always what we can control, and being able to help those in need, do the right thing and get justice for victims is always a good day in this line of work. Building relationships between our community and law enforcement is also one of my favorite parts of this career, especially when I get to influence and help our youth.

How did you get connected to your industry?

I have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and I have always taken an interest in helping others. Since I was younger, I knew I wanted to do something influencing my community and being a part of something bigger than myself. Through a family friend, I was able to visit Sioux Falls and took an opportunity to apply at the jail as a correctional officer. From there, I quickly realized Sioux Falls would be the city I would plant my roots and build my career at.

Describe the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office in three words.

Challenging, influential and important.

What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?

Someone might be surprised to learn that Spanish was my first language. I did not fully know English until I was in grade school.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

Volunteering and mentoring our youth. I also coach softball with the South Dakota Renegades competitive softball organization and am a volunteer assistant with Augustana University softball. Having the opportunity to help teens/young adults develop their skills but also become confident, strong, independent women makes me proud to be a small piece of their story.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

Tough questions. I appreciate entrepreneurship and admire those people who find their passion and make it a career. From restaurants, independent companies, nonprofits to farmers markets, I love seeing all the new changes and marketing that is occurring in Sioux Falls and would love to continue to see people chase their dreams.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, professionally, I see myself continuing to impact my community in whatever classification I am in at the sheriff’s office. I can see myself being back in our patrol unit or remain in our investigations unit. Either way, I truly believe the grass is greener where you water it. No matter what avenues my career takes me, I know I will do what I can to embrace my professional career in my agency, for my community and in my volunteer work. Personally, I pray my husband and I are able to expand our family as well.