By Roger Allen
Sheriff Tom Kriegel discussed many details about the operation of the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Department that he has overseen the past 12 years. He praised the 11 deputy sheriffs with whom he works.
Sheriff Kriegel’s presentation, at the Feb. 26 meeting of the Montezuma Lions Club, showed that a priority for him has been finding ways to cut costs while improving the operation of the department.
He zeroed in on matters related to the county Public Safety Center on the south end of Montezuma that houses the county jail and the sheriff’s department, which operates with a four million dollar budget.
Several plumbing, sewer and heating problems with the headquarters building have arisen and have been solved under Kriegel’s watch.
New cameras have been installed. He said he applied for and received $320,000 in American Rescue Plan funds that were used to update the building.
Kriegel said the jail has a capacity of 54 and currently houses 24 inmates. His spreadsheet shows that feeding inmates is a major cost of $175,000 per year. But by currently housing four out-of-county inmates the fees collected for them cover the meals budget. The electricity bill is about $30,000 per year.
Sheriff Kriegel mentioned that Poweshiek County has 586 square miles, and a population of about 18,000. Overseeing the county requires many miles of travel. He shared that the department’s vehicles are usually replaced when mileage is at about 100,000, which typically is accumulated in about four years.
Kriegel talked some about officers’ equipment. M4 rifles in use are now equipped with silencers to protect the staff’s hearing. When asked, “How much does the gear weigh that you put on daily for enforcement, protection and communication?”
His answer: 32 pounds!
Of special interest to his audience was Sheriff Kriegel’s answers to questions about the solving of the Molly Tibbetts murder, and the continuing investigation into the death of Xavior Harrelson.
He credited two of his deputies for essentially solving the Tibbetts case. Kriegel indicated that he and his deputies learned a lot in a hurry and were somewhat in awe of the FBI’s capabilities and operation for the Tibbetts investigation.
Sheriff Kriegel said he has been involved in law enforcement for 41 years – and gave unofficial indication that this will probably be his last. He said at the end of this year he will be 67 years old, and as of now not likely to commit to another four year term.