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Building dedication honors late Mineral County sheriff

Mickey O'Brien Law Enforcement Center
Posted at 4:19 PM, Dec 07, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-07 22:21:16-05

SUPERIOR — The Mineral County Justice Center has been renamed to honor a former sheriff and a man praised for his progressive actions.

Mickey O'Brien served as Mineral County’s sheriff from 1986 until his retirement in 1998.

County officials gathered on Friday for the unveiling of the new sign donning the Mineral County Law Enforcement and Justice Center in his honor.

Current Mineral County Sheriff Mike Toth says the renaming is the perfect way to honor the former legend and progressive thinker who passed away this summer.

“This whole building would not be here if it wasn’t for him. Back then he didn’t hesitate and made a female undersheriff and then helped her and encouraged her to become sheriff -- one of the only female sheriffs in the state of Montana. Mickey was forward-thinking like that. And that’s just the type of man Mickey was,” Sheriff Toth recalled.

Sheriff Toth is referring to former Sheriff Anita Parkin, who says Mickey was influential in her career and that the two were great friends even after his retirement.