Kirk Ellis graduated from Watertown High School in 2000. He went on to attend the University of South Dakota, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Speech Communication Studies. He started with the Watertown Police Department in January of 2004. Within the police department, he has held the positions of Field Training Officer, Corporal, K9 Officer, Sergeant, and was most recently promoted to Captain in June of 2019. He currently commands the Criminal Investigative Division. 
Kirk serves on the accident investigation team, traffic safety team, coordinates sobriety checkpoints, and is a sniper for the S.W.A.T. team. He is a former K9 handler for Hondo and Thera-Dakota.
Throughout his years of service, Kirk has been awarded the MADD Officer of the Year, Skyman Redday Officer of the year, Watertown Police Department Officer of the Year, Optimist Club Officer of the Year, VFW Northeast Officer of the Year, and VFW state Officer of the Year. Kirk gets great satisfaction from proudly serving the community he grew up in.