Gallatin County

Second grader becomes Gallatin County sheriff for a day

Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:17 AM by Chet Layman
Updated: Oct 23, 2012 12:34 PM

BOZEMAN - For one day last week, direction of law enforcement in Gallatin County was not in the hands of the man appointed to handle the job by the county commission. Instead, there was a new sheriff in town, a second grader from the Monforton School the latest to wear the badge as Sheriff for a Day.

Keelan Gaines was elected by his school to spend the day as the Gallatin County sheriff. Tours of courtrooms and the detention center were mixed with meetings with staff. Sheriff Keelan also got a chance to shoot some hoops in the jail's recreation yard.

For Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin, the Sheriff for a Day program is a fun way to spend time with some of the county's young people.

"You know with all the meetings and all the politics and all of that stuff really this is what it's all about. It's about our kids and our families. Again I can't emphasize this is the real fun part of the job," he said.

Sheriff Keelan says the highlight of the day was spending time at the range.

"I can shoot some paintballs," he said.