March 28, 2024

Sheriff’s office wants to meet with residents

Events in Kellogg, Mingo, Sully let citizens provide more formal feedback

Three small towns in Jasper County will get a chance to meet with their local sheriff’s department to discuss any issues in their communities.

Jasper County Sheriff’s Office will host the community outreach meetings in Sully, Kellogg and Mingo. All three towns contract their law enforcement services through the sheriff’s office. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty said town halls in the other communities could follow.

“With the summer months and it getting warmer and some of the COVID restrictions being released, we just thought it would be a good time to go out to the communities and give an opportunity for some face-to-face interaction,” Halferty said, noting he and the deputies will still practice social distancing.

In addition to mingling with their local law enforcement officers, Halferty said residents are encouraged to address any concerns they may have.

Event information listed traffic complaints, vacation checks, suspicious activity, weapon permits, community policing and how to contact the sheriff’s office for non-emergency reasons (controlled burns, animal issues, jail information and traffic hazards) as possible topics.

Halferty said these types of events for the sheriff’s office have been discussed in the past but have not been fully implemented. Although the pandemic limited social activities this past year, the sheriff said he and his deputies have still been able to visit their communities and connect with citizens.

“This is more of a formal event or an opportunity for people to come and meet us and then share any information or concerns they might have,” Halferty said.

Two to three sheriff’s office personnel will be attending the events.

Halferty hopes citizens come prepared with questions for their local law enforcement. What is the sheriff’s office doing? What kind of crimes does the sheriff’s office see? Are deputies seeing a lot burglaries? What type of enforcement is being conducted?

“It’s just kind of an open forum,” Halferty said. “We’re hoping we get some involvement and then we can take those first two or three meetings and use that feedback and maybe develop this program further.”

Community Outreach with Sully

WHEN: 6:15 p.m. May 11

WHERE: Town square park, located between Sixth and Seventh Avenue*

Community Outreach with Kellogg

WHEN: 6:15 p.m. May 18

WHERE: Holmdahl Park shelter house*

Community Outreach with Mingo

WHEN: 6:15 p.m. May 20

WHERE: Mingo Community Shelter Center*

*All events are scheduled to be held outside, weather permitting

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com

Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig has a strong passion for community journalism and covers city council, school board, politics and general news in Newton, Iowa and Jasper County.