Linn County deputy retires after almost 43 years with office

CEDAR RAPIDS — Capt. Randy Rowland was 21 years old when he was hired as a deputy sheriff with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in 1980. Now, at 64, he’s retiring after working for the county for almost 43 years.

Rowland has the second-longest career with the sheriff’s office in recent memory, having worked with the department for 42 years, 11 months and 17 days. Lt. Gene Parks, who retired in 2014, had the longest career, beating Rowland by a mere 11 days.

“There’s an age limit on how long you can be an officer in Iowa — age 65 — so I could have stuck around a little bit longer, another year if I wanted. But, it’s time,” Rowland said. “After 43 years, it’s time to go. Like they say, you know when you’re ready, and I’m ready.”

The Sheriff’s Office held a retirement reception Friday for Rowland, who has served in eight positions within the department, under six sheriffs.

Sheriff Brian Gardner was hired at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office just a little after Rowland. After Rowland leaves, Gardner will be the oldest and most senior person in the department.

“When you lose older people like this, you lose a bit of the history of the organization as well,” Gardner said.

Rowland spent most of his career working in the department’s civil division, which is in charge of serving legal notices, such as subpoenas, restraining orders and no-contact orders. He has been the civil division commander since August 2017. He also has worked in the patrol division, the general services division and the jail division.

According to Gardner, Rowland became a statewide expert on civil matters during his time at the sheriff’s office.

“I’ve enjoyed all the different divisions I’ve worked in, but civil’s where most of my knowledge is,” Rowland said. “It’s unique. Everybody goes to the academy and gets trained on the same basic stuff, but civil is kind of a unique world all on it’s own.”

Rowland acknowledged Friday that it’s rare these days for someone to stay with one department for an entire career, but he said he enjoyed his work with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and never felt the need to leave.

“I’ve pretty much enjoyed every job that I’ve had here, so that’s a big part of it, and the people I’ve gotten to work with over the years. That’s what basically makes or breaks you, and I’ve been lucky. I’ve had good people to work with.”

At the reception Friday, Rowland was presented with an outstanding service plaque and a retirement ID card by Gardner, and was given another plaque by his civil team. He thanked the attendees — including several sheriff’s office retirees — and said he’s grateful for everyone he had the opportunity to work with.

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