Henry “Hank” Prim is a public sector and public safety executive with experience spanning municipal administration, statewide policing leadership, organizational reform, professional standards, and major criminal investigations.
Hank currently serves as City Administrator and Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Box Elder, South Dakota, a rapidly growing community in the Rapid City metropolitan area and home to Ellsworth Air Force Base. He directs municipal operations and advises the Mayor and City Council on organizational strategy, public safety, budgeting, risk, and service delivery. His work also includes oversight of emergency preparedness, long-range planning, and organizational improvement, as well as coordination with local, state, federal, military, and private-sector partners.
Prior to entering municipal administration, Hank served with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. As a field agent, he investigated major crimes, financial offenses, and other complex matters, working across jurisdictional lines and participating in critical incident and federal task force assignments. He later served as South Dakota’s Law Enforcement Training Administrator and Executive Secretary of the State Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission. In that role, he directed the state’s law enforcement training and certification system and oversaw professional standards matters, including sensitive personnel, misconduct, and certification investigations. His tenure also included significant policy and organizational reform and efforts to strengthen workforce development and agency operations.
Hank subsequently led regional DCI investigative operations while overseeing several statewide programs and critical response functions. His work required close coordination among policing agencies across South Dakota and included establishing the state’s public integrity and corruption program following statutory changes.
Although his career has moved increasingly into executive leadership, he has remained connected to frontline law enforcement, currently serving as a part-time police officer and command staff advisor with a local police agency.
Hank is a graduate of FBI National Academy Session 293. He holds a Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego, a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy from Hillsdale College. He is also an experienced instructor and presenter, with published work focused on law enforcement leadership, training, and workforce development.
