Sheldon, Iowa — Elaine Boogerd, the friendly face we’ve seen at the front desk of the Sheldon Police Department for the past thirty-five years, is calling it quits and plans to retire at the end of her shift this Thursday.
Boogerd began with the department as a part-time dispatcher on December 10th, 1985, in the little red brick police station that sat on what is now the east parking lot at the Community Services Center.
(As above) “All thirty-five years I have been part-time, never full-time. At that time, for several years, I was a dispatcher for Sheldon P.D., part-time.”
She says much about her job has changed since she started thirty-five years ago, and she talks about the biggest change.
(As above) “(The) computer would make the biggest difference. Everything used to be on paper…we used reams of paper (chuckles) for keeping records. We’re trying to get away from that now, put everything on the computer.”
Boogerd says she’s seen a lot of officers pass through the doors of the Sheldon Police Department during he thirty-five years on the job.
(As above) “I have worked with four different chiefs and lots of officers, and they have all kinds of personalities but you just try to work with them. And I’ve seen lots of other law enforcement come in….deputies, Iowa State Patrol, etc.”
She says it’s been a wonderful thirty-five years and she is very thankful.
(As above) “I would like to thank God for my health and keeping me safe so that I could do this job. I’d like to thank the officers that I’ve worked with and the many other people and the citizens of Sheldon. It’s been a wonderful thirty-five years, thank you.”
Due to the pandemic, the traditional Retirement Coffee for Boogerd couldn’t be held, but she was the recipient of a card shower, wishing her well in her retirement.
Photo courtesy of the Sheldon Police Department. (left to right: Officer Eric Meineke, Officer David Dykstra, Officer Rob Hegenbarth, Administrative Assistant Elaine Boogerd, Officer Tim Loeschen, Officer Todd Wood, Chief Scott Burtch)
