Jasper County offers land to help Crisis Canines of the Midlands expansion
Nonprofit trains dogs and handlers to provide mental health support for first responders
By Christopher Braunschweig Police Week
Former Sheriff John Halferty brought some four-legged backup to the county board of supervisors meeting in November 2024. Two “Crisis Canines” and their handlers joined Halferty in requesting a future sale of land so that a local nonprofit can expand its training of dogs that provide support to law enforcement officers.
As board president of Crisis Canines of the Midlands, Halferty said the nonprofit wants to remain centrally located but it has outgrown its current facility. Two academies are already scheduled for next year with teams from all over the country. There are roughly 20 to 25 teams in each academy.
“We’re doing quarterly trainings,” Halferty said. “…We would like to offer additional resources and classes, but we need a training center. And so we’re working on that. We need to find a piece of ground to build. We have this vision of what we want to build, but we need to know where that is going to be.”
Halferty inquired about the ground where the old Quakerdale Youth Shelter and Jasper County Care Facility used to stand. He thought it would be a nice addition to the nearby projects for the sheriff’s office, secondary roads and conservation. Halferty said its location to the interstate and hotels is ideal for trainings.
“We’re expanding so rapidly right now we’re having growing pains,” Halferty said. “We’re working on many challenges, but the ultimate vision is having a central location. We want to stay in Iowa. We want to have a building that is able to provide all that training we can also offer to peer support and other resources.”
However, Halferty stressed the nonprofit is not asking supervisors to donate the county-owned land but rather con-
Christopher Braunschweig/Police Week Handlers and dogs of Crisis Canines of the Midlands attend the Nov. 4 board of supervisors meeting in the Jasper County Courthouse to request a fair price for county-owned land that would be used to expand the nonprofit’s training facilities.
sider selling it to them at a reasonable price.
WHAT IS CRISIS CANINES?
Crisis Canines of the Midlands was founded by Justin and Rebecca Smith, who are leading the charge in ensuring first responder agencies have more teams of dogs and responder handlers. While the dogs serve as great ambassadors to their agencies, their main focus is help -
ing the mental health of first responders.
Steve Ashing, deputy director of the Jasper County Emergency Management Agency, is the handler of River, a young German Shepherd. Ashing said mental health in the first responder field is something that has been neglected until somewhat recently. Crisis Canines directly addresses that issue.
“A citizen may see one or two cata-
strophic events in their life that creates trauma. It overwhelms their ability to cope with the situation. A first responder may see thousands of events in their career,” Ashing said. “…Historically, we haven’t dealt with that very well. That relates to retention problems, morale problems.”
Crisis Canines of the Midlands has helped alleviate those issues by pairing a therapy canine with a first responder. The dog becomes a badged member of the department and gives handlers the authority to go into emergency scenes.
Ashing said it takes one year worth of training to get canines started.
Upon their certification the dogs and their handlers can begin work to help their agencies. Ashing said canines assist with debriefings or provide general support at the fire station or police station. The dogs are trained to seek out people that are stressed or having an emotional response or crisis.
“They will sense that and come over to that person and try to give them some ease,” Ashing said. “That is kind of the whole synopsis of the program.”
HOW DOES CRISIS CANINES HELP PEOPLE?
Of course the dogs also provide support to Jasper County civilians in times of crisis. Halferty said a young individual experienced a great deal of trauma when they discovered their sibling had died. One of the canine teams responded, and Halferty said a bond was formed to relieve some of that immediate trauma.
Teams of Crisis Canines have responded to more regional disasters, too. When a school shooting happened at Perry, dogs and their handlers responded to the hospitals and helped the medical teams that provided care to those who were
wounded. Halferty said the program has been a great tool.
“It is hard to describe unless you’ve sit through those debriefings or you see someone in crisis,” Halferty said. “You can just see the effect that these canines have. I’ve said it for many years and I’m going to say it again: If we don’t take care of our own people, how can we expect them to take care of others?”
Jasper County has essentially served as the step-off point for Crisis Canines of the Midlands. Currently, there are five certified teams of Crisis Canines in Jasper County alone, and another is in training. The program has gained momentum over the past few years. The initial goal was to have two teams in every county in the state.
“We’re still working through that but we have gotten so much interest and so much notoriety not only statewide but nationwide,” Ashing said. “This is becoming a nationwide program. We are doing a lot of hard work at the board level to get that spun up so we can accommodate that. But that comes with challenges.”
SUPERVISORS RESPOND FAVORABLY
Supervisor Brandon Talsma asked if the nearby shooting range built at the old JCARL building grounds would negatively impact dogs and training. Ashing said getting dogs desensitized to sirens and gunshots is part of the training, so it would actually be an asset to the nonprofit.
Smith added, “We’d want to position the building away enough so we’re not directly in range.”
Crisis Canines of the Midlands wants to build a 60 feet by 155 feet structure. Supervisors not only seemed receptive to having the nonprofit use nearby land to expand its offerings, Talsma went so far as to suggest the land be given to Crisis Canines at no cost but the county would still own the property.
“I’m not concerned about monetary compensation for the ground,” Talsma said. “…The expenses of the building and the maintenance and everything else is on you guys, but essentially Jasper County is giving you guys the two acres, three
acres, what it is you require to build a facility.”
Halferty was not expecting that offer and appreciated the board’s willingness to help the nonprofit. Talsma said the contract would work similarly to how JCARL owned the technically county-owned property for as long as they existed or were in operation. The same would be drafted for Crisis Canines.
The board of supervisors voted 3-0 to approve the request from Crisis Canines of the Midlands for the use of the ground at the old Jasper County Care Facility site, which would be determined later in a contract with the county attorney’s approval.
Law enforcement officers and agencies play various roles
The first call many people make during an emergency is to their local police department. Police officers and other law enforcement personnel are instrumental in keeping citizens safe and protecting personal property, acting as keepers of the law and making sure laws are obeyed. Despite the services they provide and the risks they take every day, law enforcement officers are often taken for granted. Until an officer loses his or her life while on the job, little fanfare is given to the difficult role our police officers play every day. Responsibilities of officers and other law enforcement workers vary depending on their rank and location, but most would agree they play a vital role at all levels — from local to national governments. Here are some notable law enforcement organizations in North America.
• U.S. Park Police: Believe it or not, the Park Police is the oldest uniformed federal law enforcement agency in the United States. Created in 1791 by George Washington, the Park Police is a separate, specialized unit of the National Park Service. The main areas of patrol for the United States Park Police include Washington, D.C., the Gateway National
Recreation Areas in New York City, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, Calif. Recruitment Firm
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police: The Canadian police force is broken down into three levels: Municipal, provincial and federal. All but three provinces hand over their provincial law enforcement responsibilities to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Commonly referred to as “The Mounties,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are both a federal and national police force and have an unusually large scope of duties. The officers may handle enforcing federal laws such as counterfeiting, drug trafficking and organized crime, while also handling forensic identification, emergency responses and other traditional police duties at the provincial level.
• Boston Police Department: The first, local, modern police department established in the United States was the Boston Police Department, which was founded in 1838. It is the second oldest municipal police force in the country behind only the Philadelphia Police Department. Before the establishment of a formal police department in Boston, residents
of the city engaged in a night watch. Watchmen carried a badge, rattle and a pole that was painted blue and white. The pole had a hook on one end to make it easier to apprehend fleeing criminals. Today, the Boston Police is one of the largest police departments in the country.
• New York City Police Department: Individuals looking to join the largest municipal police force in the United States need look no further than the NYPD. According to the NYPD administration, there are currently around 34,500 uniformed officers in the force. Established in
1845, the primary responsibilities of the NYPD involve law enforcement within the five boroughs of New York City.
• United States Mint Police: The Mint Police are responsible for ensuring the protection of government valuables. Established in 1792, it is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the country and has the responsibility for protecting the United States Mint and the United States Treasury. The Mint Police are stationed all over the country, from California to Colorado to Pennsylvania.
• United States Coast Guard: Law enforce -
ment in the United States even extends to the waters that surround the country. The U.S. Coast Guard is the nation’s primary maritime law enforcement agency and has multi-faceted jurisdictional authority in the waters of the United States. The Coast Guard generally handles water emergencies, drug interdiction and inspection of fishing vessels. The Coast Guard also plays a role in preventing illegal immigration. The Coast Guard is a division of the Department of Homeland Security.
• Campus police: Many colleges and universities, and even some high schools, employ campus police. Usually these are sworn police officers who are employed by the school to protect the campus personnel, students and surrounding areas. Campus police officers’ on-campus location typically enables them respond more quickly to school-centered emergencies than a city police force located off-campus. Law enforcement officers provide a unique and valuable service to communities big and small. Whatever their specific role, the men and women who wear the uniform are vital to the safety of the country.
— Metro Creative
Jasper County Law Enforcement Professional of the Year: Kyle Lovan
Newton school resource officer made such a positive impact that students petitioned him to stay
By Christopher Braunschweig Police Week
Kyle Lovan has made such an impact on students at Berg Middle School and throughout the Newton school district that kids can’t bear to see him leave. One student created a PowerPoint presentation explaining why the school resource officer should stay at his post. Another student even formed a petition.
“There were posters around the school, and a bunch of kids signed it — ‘Keep Officer Lovan at Berg!’ I think there were close to 400 signatures,” Lovan said in an interview with Newton News. “I figured, well, if they went to all that trouble, I’ll stay at Berg. That was nice they thought highly of me.”
It is instances like these that show Lovan is not only a valued member of the community, but he is also a valued member of local law enforcement who is very clearly making a difference. Which is why Lovan has been named this year’s Jasper County Law Enforcement Professional of the Year.
Those who nominated Lovan said he is “a great example of an officer who continued to strive to be better throughout his career.” They described him as an “exemplary” police officer and school resource officer, and one that both the city and the Newton Community School District “are bless -
ed to have.”
Lovan joined the Newton Police Department as a patrol officer in 2002. Fellow officers respect him for his consistency, dependability and his proactive approach to policing. He is also a very dedicated police officer. In his 23 years serving the community, Lovan prides himself in the fact he has rarely taken a sick day.
Four years ago, he applied to be the next school resource officer assigned to Berg Middle School. Ever since he has
served students and staff diligently and built strong relationships between them and law enforcement. Without a doubt, Lovan believes these past four years have been his favorites as a police officer. Why? Well, it could be because the role of school resource officer has given him opportunities to build positive engagement between law enforcement and kids.
Which is just a fancy way of saying Lovan gets to play games and organize fun activ-
ities for kids during the school day. Students love a chance to step away from the school work and compete in a corn hole tournament, for instance. Lovan has created a number of different programs that foster relationship building. Perhaps his greatest program — or his favorite, at least — is Cops and Bobbers. Lovan schedules a day of fishing with select junior high school students. In the past, kids have enjoyed fishing and a picnic at the Izaak Walton League
pond. Last year, kids went home with their own pole and tackle box.
Lovan’s latest venture is establishing an e-sports program at the high school. He is currently fundraising for the program, which he said is about half way to its funding goal. In addition to allowing students compete in video games, the program also opens up opportunities for scholarships.
When Lovan first decided he wanted to be a cop, he did not expect he would be creating an e-sports program and going fishing with middle schoolers. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. He became an officer to help others make better life choices and to make his community safer and to serve and protect it.
He does just that when connecting with youth and showing them a police officer is not someone to be scared of. Police officers can be approachable and easy to talk to. They can still be goofy but also be there for you. Whether it is a traffic stop or talking with students at Berg, Lovan strives for a positive experience.
“Showing them that a police officer is just like anybody else,” Lovan said. “…That’s why in school I want to show the kids that I’m not just a person in a uniform. That is why I build these positive relationships and get to know the kids and things like that, and I want to do that with the community, too.”
Christopher Braunschweig/Police Week
Officer Kyle Lovan of the Newton Police Department has been named the Jasper County Law Enforcement Professional of the Year. Lovan has worked at the department since 2002 and is currently a school resource officer at Newton Community School District.
Jasper County’s Kira Lazenby recognized for her work helping victims
U.S. Dept of Justice awards sergeant Law Enforcement Victim Service Award
By Christopher Braunschweig Police Week
Sergeant Kira Lazenby of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office was presented with the Law Enforcement Victim Service Award by the U.S. Department of Justice during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week for her unwavering commitment to ensuring victims receive immediate and comprehensive support.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa observed the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from April 6 to 12. In addition to recognizing the courage and bravery of victims, the Southern District of Iowa also honored law enforcement.
In total, 11 individuals were awarded for their outstanding service to victims, including sheriff’s office personnel from various counties, a victim/
witness liaison for a county attorney’s office, an official in the FBI and officers from numerous police departments across the state of Iowa.
According to a press release from the Department of Justice, Lazenby has investigated a wide range of victim-related cases, including domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and other violent crimes. She has displayed compassion, diligence and professionalism in her work.
Lazenby ensures victims are heard, supported and protected throughout the investigative and judicial process.
In 2024, without direction, she independently developed and implemented a county-wide victim information system to ensure that every law enforcement officer in Jasper County — across five agencies — had a standardized and easily accessible process for providing resources to victims.
Submitted Photo
Sergeant Kira Lazenby of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office receives the Law Enforcement Victim Service Award by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
Law enforcement facts
are more than 900,000 sworn law enforceofficers now serving United States, which highest figure ever. About 12 percent of those female.
According to the FBI’s UniCrime Reports, an estimated 1,197,704 Violent Crimes occurred nationin 2015, an increase percent over 2014.
9-3 Your dedication, hard work and commitment to duty do not go unnoticed...
enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Currently, there are 20,789 names engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
ment officers in 2015, resulting in 14,453 injuries.
• A total of 1,439 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years, an average of one death every 61 hours or 144 per year. There were 123 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2015.
• The 1920s were the deadliest decade in law enforcement history, when a total of 2,437 officers died, or an average of almost 243 each year. The deadliest year in law enforcement history was 1930, when 304 officers were killed. That figure dropped dramatically in the 1990s, to an average of 162 per year.
72 officers were killed while responding to the terrorist attacks on America.
• New York City has lost more officers in the line of duty than any other department, with 705 deaths. Texas has lost 1,682 officers, more than any other state. The state with the fewest deaths is Vermont, with 23.
military law enforcement officers.
• There are 292 cers listed on the al; 11 female officers killed in 2015.
• There are 1,102 federal
• During the past more incidents ed in felonious occurred on Friday any other day of The fewest number nious incidents on Tuesday.
Rozendaal honored for almost 30 years of service
Jasper County Chief Deputy awarded first Jasper County Law Enforcement Distinguished Service Award by the Rotary Club of Newton
By Jamee A. Pierson Police Week
For almost 30 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
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.”
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
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.
Jamee A. Pierson/Police Week
Jasper County Chief Deputy Duane Rozendaal has spent his working life serving other from time with the Iowa State Patrol to the local sheriff’s department.
PAYING TRIBUTE
Remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Six Jasper County officers have given their lives in the Line of Duty. They include: Prairie City Police Chief Mike German died of complications from COVID-19 Jan. 13, 2022. German served in the Prairie City Police Department since 2014, taking over as police chief in 2020.
tack Sept. 1, 2013, when he was exercising for the department’s agility test.
Lieutenant Patrick Richardson joined the Newton Police Department July 28, 1990. He was promoted to lieutenant May 10, 2010. Lieutenant Richardson suffered a fatal heart at-
Officer Bobby Barrickman joined the Newton Police Department July 1, 1974. Officer Barrickman was killed Sept. 30, 1979, in a traffic accident while on duty.
Officer Dan McPherren joined the Newton Police Department Dec. 4, 1973. Officer McPherren was shot and killed Sept. 13, 1985, when he responded with other officers to a robbery at a gro-
cery store. Officer Donald Rusty Hewitt served the Prairie City Police Department until the time of his death Dec. 3, 1977. Officer Hewitt was killed in an automobile accident during a high-speed pursuit.
Reserve Captain Howard Holdefer served the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office until the time of his death Oct. 30, 1973. Reserve Captain Holdefer suffered a fatal heart attack while assisting other deputies in the arrest of three individuals near Reasnor.
German
Richardson
Barrickman
McPherren
Hewitt
Holdefer
File Photo
Local law enforcement guards march down a sidewalk carrying flags during a previous Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony held on the Jasper County Courthouse lawn.
How communities can honor local police
Safe communities allow residents to thrive and live their lives to the fullest. Such communities are sought-after places to live, and maintaining a community-wide sense of safety and security is no small task.
Local police forces do much to keep their communities safe, so it’s no great mystery why residents want to show how much they appreciate the people who ensure their towns and cities remain wonderful places to call home. With that in mind, community residents, small business owners and elected officials can consider the following ways to honor local police.
• Offer discounts to law enforcement and their families. Small business owners recognize the vital role local police play in keeping Main Street safe. A safe dining and shopping district is beneficial to business owners’ bottom line, and that makes it worth their while to offer discounts to local law enforcement and their families. Local restaurant owners can offer percentage-based law enforcement discounts on food and drinks to active and retired law enforcement personnel and their families. Local shop owners can follow suit. Year-round discounts for law enforcement and their families are a nice token of business owners’ appreciation, and such offers can be increased during busy times of year, such as the holiday season.
• Showcase officers on social media. Local governments can get in on the act by highlighting a different officer each month on various social media platforms. Interview a new officer each month and highlight their backgrounds and careers. This
can be a great way to showcase the talents of local officers and foster strong connections between community residents and the men and women in law enforcement who keep their towns and cities safe.
• Feature officers during public celebrations. Parades, holiday bazaars and local scholastic sporting events are some examples of events that bring community residents together. Such events provide great opportunities to thank local law enforcement and bring them into direct contact with residents. Encourage parade attendees to shake hands with featured officers and utilize well-attended community events, such as high school football games, to formally recognize local police departments and officers. A halftime announcement honoring an “Officer of the Month” is one way to showcase officers so residents can put a name and a face on their local police departments.
• Support police during town council meetings. Attendance at town council meetings is a good way to remain informed about what’s going on in a community, and it also serves as an opportunity to support measures aimed at benefitting local law enforcement personnel. Support efforts to increase salaries for local police officers and upgrade their resources so they can continue to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.
There’s no shortage of ways for communities and residents to express their appreciation and support for the local law enforcement personnel who keep their towns and cities safe.
— Metro Creative
