Former SDSU Police Chief Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty

The former South Dakota State University Police Chief has pleaded guilty to one count of Animal Cruelty.

According to Dakota News Now, Timothy Heaton, 59, the former South Dakota State University Police Chief, has pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty following his arrest in late 2025.

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Heaton, a Brookings resident, was originally charged with five felony counts of animal cruelty after the Brookings Police Department arrested him on November 23, 2025.

The charges stemmed from an investigation that led to five German Shepherds being seized from a home on the 1000 block of 3rd Street.

While he initially faced all five counts, Heaton ultimately pleaded guilty to a single charge.

His sentencing is scheduled for May 19 at 11:00 a.m.

Following his arrest, Heaton was booked into the Brookings County Detention Facility to await court proceedings.

In response to the situation, South Dakota State University moved quickly to fill the leadership void within its police department.

The university appointed Michael Kilber as interim chief of the University Police Department.

Kilber brings nearly two decades of law enforcement experience to the role and has served as SDSU's deputy chief since 2007.

The case has drawn significant attention given Heaton's prominent role in campus law enforcement.