Tama County Sheriff Casey Schmidt.

It’s been a busy last couple of months at the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, and it is about time for an update from me!

First off, I want to recognize our staff, especially the deputies. Right now we are short a deputy, and with Deputy Trevor Killian retiring, we’ll be down two. Like a lot of law enforcement agencies right now, hiring is difficult. The good news is we are moving forward with the hiring process, and the Civil Service testing is coming up at the end of June. Our goal is to get quality people hired and get them on the road as soon as possible.

The reality is being short staffed affects scheduling, and scheduling affects morale. There’s really no way around that. I know it’s frustrating for the deputies, and I know trying to move schedules around and make everything work isn’t fun for anybody. Unfortunately, when you’re short staffed, there are no perfect answers. What I can say is I appreciate every single one of our deputies for continuing to step up, pick up overtime, adjust schedules, and continue doing the job professionally while we work through it. That says a lot about the people we have working here. The same goes for our jail staff. Most of what they do goes unseen by the public, but the office doesn’t function without them.

By the time this article comes out, it will also be Deputy Trevor Killian’s final day with the Tama County Sheriff’s Office. Trevor is retiring after nearly three decades of service to this county and this office. Throughout his career, he has worn many hats and has dedicated a large part of his life to serving the people of Tama County while also continuing to serve in the military. I appreciate his years of service, his experience, and everything he has contributed to this office over the years. On behalf of the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, I wish him the best in retirement.

Another big thing for our office is that we are now officially an affiliate agency with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, also known as ICAC. That affiliation gives our investigators additional training, resources, and tools when it comes to investigating crimes involving children, especially online exploitation and child sexual abuse material. Unfortunately, these crimes are becoming more common, and they are not just big city problems. They happen everywhere, including rural Iowa. Being part of ICAC gives us a much stronger ability to investigate those crimes and protect kids here in Tama County.

Mental health has also been a focus for our office recently. Law enforcement and first responders see a lot of things most people thankfully never have to see, and over time that stuff adds up whether people want to admit it or not. That’s why I implemented yearly mental health check ins and wellness support for our office. That includes deputies, jail staff, and dispatchers. This is something new that I’ve implemented because I genuinely care about the people we have working here. I’ve always believed that you can’t properly take care of and serve other people if you’re not taking care of yourself first. You can’t be a good deputy, dispatcher, jailer, husband, wife, father, or mother if you’re running yourself into the ground and ignoring it. I also want to recognize Jacob, our Communications Director, for the work he’s doing to support our dispatchers and their mental health as well.

We also recently had Libby Whelan start with our office as a Law Enforcement Mental Health Liaison. Libby is going to be a great asset not only for our office, but for the citizens we serve as well. Right now we are still working through exactly what that role will look like and how it can best benefit both our staff and the public. It has been a slower process than I would’ve liked, and that falls on me simply because things have been rather busy. But I believe it is something that will be very beneficial moving forward, and I’m excited to continue building that part of our office.

Over the last several weeks, I also had the chance to spend time with the Iowa State Patrol Air Wing and see firsthand what those aircraft and camera systems can do. Honestly, it was impressive. What those aircraft are capable of doing for public safety is incredible, especially for smaller counties like ours. Whether it’s locating missing people, helping track dangerous criminals, assisting during large searches, or providing overwatch during high risk situations, those aircraft are an unbelievable asset for the state. It was also another reminder that resources like that are not luxuries. They are tools that save time, improve safety, and can absolutely make a difference in critical situations.

I also recently wrapped up my first legislative session serving on the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association Legislative Committee. One thing that stood out to me very quickly is how much what happens at the Capitol affects small rural counties like Tama County. It also gave me a much bigger appreciation for the process and reinforced how important it is that rural counties have a voice in those conversations.

I want people to understand that our office’s focus remains the same regardless of who we are serving or what community we are working with. Our goal is simple. Provide professional law enforcement services, maintain strong working relationships, and do what is best for public safety across Tama County. At the end of the day, our responsibility is to serve the public the best we can and continue building an office people can trust.

Lastly, one thing I’ve learned in this position is that there is always room to improve and always room to grow. No office is ever perfect, and I think it’s important that we continue looking for ways to strengthen this office, support the people working here, and provide the best service possible to the people of Tama County.

Some people may look at the things we’re doing and think we’re biting off more than we can chew or trying to do too much at once. I understand that perspective, but I also look at it differently. When I look at the things we’re implementing and pursuing, I don’t necessarily see “extra” things. I see things that should be part of a modern, professional sheriff’s office and things that continue moving us in the right direction. I believe if something improves our office, improves professionalism, improves training, improves accountability, improves morale, or improves service to the people of Tama County, then we have a responsibility to pursue it. I’m not interested in simply maintaining the status quo because that’s how organizations become stagnant.

At the end of the day, I look at the big picture and come back to one simple question: Is this good for the people of Tama County? If the answer is yes, then we’re going to keep moving forward.

Casey Schmidt, a Republican from Dysart, is the sheriff of Tama County.