Sheldon, Iowa — This coming Wednesday, November 27th, long-time Sheldon Police Chief Lyle Bolkema will hang up his handcuffs and call it a career.
Bolkema announced his retirement late last month, and his departure will bring to an end a career that spanned more than 30 years in Sheldon PD blue. Bolkema was sworn in as a Sheldon police officer by then-Mayor Ray Youngers, on September 6, 1989. He served as a patrolman until his appointment as Chief, replacing former Police Chief Larry Locke on April 4, 2003, serving in that capacity for more than 16 years.
In the letter Bolkema wrote to City Manager Sam Kooiker, in which he announced his intention to retire, Bolkema expressed his thanks to the city for giving him the opportunity to serve for the past 30 years. He went on to write that he has had the opportunity to work with and for many amazing people in Sheldon. He went on to say that he is truly grateful for this community and will always consider it to be his home.
A Retirement Open House in Chief Bolkema’s honor will be held this Monday (November 25th) from 4:00 until 7:30 pm, with a presentation scheduled for 5:30 Monday evening, all at the Crossroads Pavilion Event Center, and the public is cordially invited to attend.
