Orange City, Iowa — We told you back in February that Sioux County Sheriff Dan Altena planned to run for a seat on the Sioux County Board of Supervisors, and if he were elected, he’d retire as sheriff. Well, that’s still the case, but there has been a small monkey wrench thrown into the Sheriff’s plan.
Altena says it all has to do with the rules involving the public employees’ pension plan.
He says he’s going to have to stop working for the Sheriff’s Department sooner than planned.
In this case, that probably won’t be an issue, as Altena did win the Republican primary for his District 3 Board of Supervisors race, and no Democrats filed. So, unless there is a massive write-in campaign, it appears that Altena will begin his duties as a County Supervisor on January 1st, after having a four-month taste of retirement.
Upon Altena’s retirement next month, the County Board of Supervisors can appoint someone to fill his term or can hold a special election. If the board decides to appoint someone, the citizens of the county could also petition for a special election instead.
Altena says his desire is to make Sioux County a better place to live, and when he retires from the sheriff’s office, he says he’d like to continue doing that.
Altena has released a statement:
“My chief goal as a law enforcement officer has always been to help maintain the high quality of life that we enjoy in Sioux County by providing the very best public safety possible. I feel confident leaving the Office of Sioux County Sheriff knowing that we have achieved that goal and that the Sheriff’s Office is strongly positioned to continue serving the people of Sioux County well into the future.
I have thoroughly enjoyed serving Sioux County as a law enforcement officer for the last 43 years, and particularly the last 18 years as your elected Sheriff.
It has been an immense honor and privilege to lead the Sheriff’s Office and see it through tremendous development from an operation in a dated facility to a state-of-the-art law enforcement, corrections and communications center.
I am proud that during my tenure at the Sheriff’s Office, we created our first-ever school resource unit, enhanced our emergency response unit and award-winning K-9 program, reorganized our dive team, and provided a real-time public notification system (Nixle) which also offers text-a-tip, a confidential reporting system, along with many other accomplishments.
I have been blessed to have a dedicated team of professionals at the Sheriff’s Office, who do outstanding work.
It has been an honor to serve you.”
