Facts and Questions
- What are the requirements to be Sheriff?
- What are the General Powers of the Sheriff?
- What are the Duties of the Sheriff?
- What are the Law Enforcement Officer minimum standards?
- How Do I obtain a Weapon Permit?
- How Do I receive Victim Notification?
- How Do I apply for Crime Victim Assistance?
- What is the Sexual Assault Examination Program?
- Where do I find Iowa Sex Offender Registry Information?
- Where do I find National Sex Offender Registry Information?
- Where do I find Iowa Amber Alert Information?
The Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office is currently comprised of the Sheriff; Chief Deputy Sheriff; Administrative Assistant; Eight full time Deputy Sheriffs’; Jail Administrator; Five full time jail staff and Fifteen Special Deputies.
The Sheriff is an elected official and is the Chief Law Enforcement Official of the County. A Sheriff in Iowa is elected to a four-year term of service. An Iowa Sheriff is elected during the same primary election and general election as the presidential elections.
To be elected Sheriff in Iowa you must meet all the following qualifications: a) Have no felony convictions; b) Be age twenty-one or over at the time of assuming the office of Sheriff; c) Be a certified peace officer recognized by the Iowa law enforcement academy council under chapter 80B or complete the basic training course provided at the Iowa law enforcement academy’s central training facility or a location other than the central training facility within one year of taking officer. A person shall be deemed to have completed the basic training course if the person meets all course requirements except the physical training requirements.
General duties of the sheriff can be found under Iowa Code Chapter 331.653.
The person must
1. Be a U. S. Citizen and a resident of Iowa or intend to become a resident upon being employed;
2. Be 18 years of age at the time of appointment;
3. Hold a valid Iowa driver's license;
4. Not be addicted to drugs or alcohol [modified for Chapter 400 civil service positions by §400.17 of the Code of Iowa];
5. Be of good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation including a fingerprint search conducted of local, state and national fingerprint files and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;
6. Successfully pass physical fitness tests; (see chart below)
2. Be 18 years of age at the time of appointment;
3. Hold a valid Iowa driver's license;
4. Not be addicted to drugs or alcohol [modified for Chapter 400 civil service positions by §400.17 of the Code of Iowa];
5. Be of good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation including a fingerprint search conducted of local, state and national fingerprint files and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;
6. Successfully pass physical fitness tests; (see chart below)
7. Not be opposed to use of force to fulfill duties;
8. Be a high school graduate or hold a GED certificate;
9. Have uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20, and color vision consistent with the Occupational demands of law enforcement;
10. Have normal hearing in each ear; and,
11. Be examined by a physician and meet the physical requirements necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer.
8. Be a high school graduate or hold a GED certificate;
9. Have uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20, and color vision consistent with the Occupational demands of law enforcement;
10. Have normal hearing in each ear; and,
11. Be examined by a physician and meet the physical requirements necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer.
12. Undergo psychological testing.
13. Undergo cognitive (Basic Skills) testing.
13. Undergo cognitive (Basic Skills) testing.