Benton County Sheriff Randy Forsyth retiring He worked as deputy, sheriff for 43 years

VINTON - For Benton County Sheriff Randy Forsyth, the desire to get involved with law enforcement started early.

'I actually did some volunteer dispatching for the Vinton Police Department when I was in high school,” said Forsyth, a native of Vinton.

In addition to dispatching, Forsyth often went on Friday and Saturday night ride-alongs with sheriff's deputies.

So, it came as little surprise when Forsyth joined the Benton County Sheriff's Office as a deputy in 1973.

But now, after 43 years with the sheriff's office, including 12 as the Benton County sheriff, Forsyth is ready to retire. He did not seek re-election this year and will serve out the rest of 2016.

Forsyth, now 64, said it was simply time.

'I just didn't want to go four more years, and I didn't want to quit in the middle of the term,” he said.

Hired by Sheriff Ken Popenhagen, Forsyth was one of three deputies in the office at the time.

Forsyth said he has enjoyed interacting with the citizens of Benton County.

'It was a chance to go out and work with the public and help people,” he said.

As the other deputies left the department, Forsyth climbed the ranks, eventually becoming chief deputy.

When Popenhagen retired, Forsyth was the logical person to succeed him. He ran as a Republican and was elected sheriff in 2004.

'I felt I knew the job, knew the division,” Forsyth said. 'I thought I was just as qualified, or more qualified, as anyone else.”

Forsyth's duties became more administrative, but working with a staff of 12 deputies means he still covers the occasional car crash or burglary as needed.

Forsyth will be succeeded by Deputy Ron Tippett, another Republican, who joined the sheriff's office in 2001 and previously served as the police chief in Belle Plaine.

Forsyth said he's not sure what he'll do after retiring, though he plans to do some traveling with his wife, who retired at the beginning of 2016.

'In the last 12 years, we've taken two one-week vacations,” he said.

But, even with the promise of travel and some relaxation, Forsyth admits there's a lot he'll miss about the only career he's ever known.

'I'm going to miss the people more than anything,” he said.