Rozendaal honored for almost 40 years of service

For almost 40 years, Duane Rozendaal, chief deputy at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, has served communities in Iowa, making sure people are taken care of in their hardest times. From starting out with the Capitol Police to becoming an Iowa State Trooper to eventually settling in Jasper County, Rozendaal has touched many lives all while being a professional and compassionate officer.

“I was a student at Lynnville-Sully and my Sunday school teacher was a state trooper,” Rozendaal said. “He got me interested and got me an application.”

Following his high school graduation in 1983, Rozendaal was hired by the state to serve in the Capitol Police Division. While there he attended the academy, graduating in 1987. He stayed for another year, earning the title of sergeant before transferring to the Iowa City area as a state trooper.

“My wife and I were just married in 1988 so we moved over to Iowa City and things started to get busy and I learned a lot,” Rozendaal said.

After starting a family, Rozendaal and his wife knew they wanted to get back closer to home and has started to serve the west end of District 11, the Poweshiek County area. As his kids started school the Lynnville-Sully area was their preferred destination and Rozendaal once again transfered to be closer to his hometown.

Work life was going smoothly until a transfer assignment came in a couple of years later, potentially moving him away from the home he had created.

“In 2012, I was approached by former sheriff John Halferty, who was chief deputy and running for sheriff, to be his chief deputy,” Rozendaal said. “I said I don’t know what a chief deputy is or what he does and he said he’d help me out.”

After Halferty won the election, the pair met in the parking lot of the sheriff’s office, shook hands and a partnership started. He retired from the state patrol after 24 years of service and started a new adventure working at a county sheriff’s department.

“The first three years being deputy chief was a complete change. First, being in an administrator seat versus being a ground pounder and then all of the other duties and responsibilities that came with it,” Rozendaal said. “John did a great job of mentoring me. He brought me to every meeting whether I needed to be there or not, just to introduce me. I had a great run with Sheriff Halferty.”

When Halferty announced his retirement following the end of his term, a lot of eyes turned to Rozendaal to see if he would try to fill the position. The seat was not one he wanted to fill. When recently elected Sheriff Brad Shutts approached Rozendaal about his plans, he gave him his blessing to run and endorsed his candidacy.

“Then, it was I am going to stick around and he asked me to stick around and said I could stay as long as I wished,” Rozendaal said. “Brad’s doing a great job and John did a great job teaching me how to be a leader and how to be affiliated in the sheriff’s office. Here I am, Year 14 with sheriff’s department, and 29 in law enforcement.”

Throughout those 29 years Rozendaal has seen more than most see in their lifetimes. From car accidents to plane crashes and everything in between, he strives to be a calming presence during what can often be people’s worst day.

“As you can imagine, over the years with that much time, doing accidents and such I have given a lot of death notifications — those are tough,” Rozendaal said. “One comes to mind where I notified two families that lived in the Montezuma area whose boys were working on an oil rig in the South Carolina area that they both had been killed. That was a tough day.”

Another incident that has a lasting impact on Rozendaal was the plane crash of a state trooper he knew. He was on the scene that day in 1991 and saw the plane slam into the ground.“There isn’t a time that I drive by the spot that it happened and don’t think about him,” Rozendaal said. “It was a bad day.”

Hearing positive feedback from those he has helped eases the bad memories, and a “thank you” really does go a long way, even though that isn’t why he does the job.

“The community has been good, in Iowa and Central Iowa even more so people still say, ‘We really appreciate what you do.’ And that means a lot,” Rozendaal said. “We don’t do it for the pats on the back, but it does mean something when people say that.”

Similarly, being honored with the Jasper County Law Enforcement Distinguished Service Award presented by Rotary Club of Newton isn’t something he needed but he does greatly appreciate it.

“I am very humbled that they think that much of me to nominate me for an award such as this,” Rozendaal said. “I couldn’t get the award if it wasn’t for their support and the great jobs that they do. It makes my job easier that way. I appreciate it immensely and what they feel of me as a leader and fellow law enforcement officer.”

Those who nominated Rozendaal for the award said: “Chief Deputy Rozendaal has dedicated his life to public service and law enforcement. In my five years at Jasper County, Chief Rozendaal has assisted on calls, came out in the nighttime hours and dedicated time as a medical examiner. Chief Rozendaal goes above and beyond for the deputies at Jasper County, whether it’s a training or just assistance needed, he is always willing to lend a hand. Chief Rozendaal holds the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office to the highest standard and I truly believe our office is one of the best in the state because of his leadership.”

Rozendaal isn’t looking to give up his badge anytime soon, but he does know he is in the twilight of his law enforcement career.

“I don’t regret the many years I’ve spent in law enforcement and I still like the job — so I’ll keep going,” he said.