News Articles
National Night Out held at the Sheriff's Office - Sibley Gazette
The Osceola County Sheriff's Offices participated in National Night Out
activities by hosting an open house at their facilities on Tuesday,
August 4th. During the evening, visitors had the opportunity to meet
the Sheriff, Deputies, Dispatchers, and Hunter the drug dog, as well as
tour the Sheriff's Office and jail. Attendees could also receive child ID
kits, register bicycles, enjoy cookies and refreshments, and ask
questions about how the Sheriff's Office works. Started in 1984, the
National Night Out occurs annually on the first Tuesday in August and
id designed to heighten crime, drug, and violence awareness, generate
support for and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen
neighborhood spirit and law enforcement-community partnerships and
send a message to criminals that lets them know that neighborhoods are
organized and fighting back. Over 37 million people in 10,000+
communities were expected to participate in this year's events nationwide.
July 16, 2014 New Dog on the Block - Daily Globe
Northwest Iowa Law Enforcement Unites - LeMars Sentinel
It’s all about networking.
That is the purpose behind the quarterly gatherings
of law enforcement officials from across northwest
Iowa.
It was one year ago when Plymouth County Sheriff
Mike Van Otterloo decided to resurrect the format
that began 20 years ago.
“Being from northwest Iowa, we have more in
common than we do with sheriffs in the central or
eastern side of the state. However we do network
statewide, with our membership in the Iowa State
Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association,” Van Otterloo said. “Our meetings do not have a set agenda. We discuss items that are affecting our individual counties and talk about potential solutions to the concerns we have.”
A combination of 13 area sheriffs, deputies and sergeants recently descended on Le Mars for an April meeting.
“It allows us to connect faces with names and build a rapport with that group of sheriff’s for future questions and concerns,” Van Otterloo said. “Even though we only physically meet four times a year, we e-mail and call each other many times with issues we may be facing in the interim.
“The office of the sheriff is unique from other law enforcement agencies in that we are the only agencies that handle the civil process, corrections facility, court security and most are in charge of the communications centers for the county, and weapons permits, just to name a few. In addition, the sheriff is the only elected law enforcement, which makes it different,” Van Otterloo added.
In addition to Van Otterloo, he is joined by Plymouth County Chief Deputy Bartolozzi, Sioux County Sheriff Altena, Sioux County Chief Deputy Huizinga, Woodbury County Sheriff Drew, Woodbury County Major Wingert, O’Brien County Sheriff Schuknecht, Osceola County Sheriff Weber, Monona County Sheriff Pratt, Monona County Deputy Bellis, Lyon County Sheriff Vander Stoep, Cherokee County Sheriff Clyde, Cherokee County Deputy Frank, Dickinson County Sheriff Baloun, Emmet County Sheriff Martens, Ida County Sheriff Harriman, Pocahontas County Sheriff Larsen, Sac County Sheriff McClure, Buena Vista County Sheriff Elston, Clay County Sheriff Raveling, and Clay County Chief Deputy Larsen.
“With the complex issues we deal with, it is good to bounce things off others who are dealing with the same concerns. It not only builds a professional bond but it has developed personal friendships, as well,” Van Otterloo said.
Another bonus for the group is it’s a great place to turn for those newly elected like Raveling in Clay County, Schuknecht in O’Brien County, Vander Stoep in Lyon County, Clyde in Cherokee County, and Elston in Buena Vista County.
“I know it was very beneficial to me when I was a young, inexperienced sheriff almost 30 years ago,” Van Otterloo concluded.
