Linn County Sheriff’s Office captain retires after 42 years

CEDAR RAPIDS - After 42 years, eight months and seven days with the Linn County Sheriff's Office, Capt. David Knott is calling it a career.

Knott, who has spent the last 22 years in the department's communications division and played a crucial role in restoring communications during the floods of 2008, said he's seen a lot of changes over the last four decades, but the role of law enforcement in the community remains the same.

'You investigate crimes, you make arrests and you help people,” Knott said.

Knott, 63, said his interest in law enforcement began as a kid growing up in Coggon. He recalls hanging out on Main Street in Coggon and chatting with the deputies who would stop by. After graduating from high school, he studied law enforcement at Kirkwood Community College.

Hired in September 1973 as a part-time jailer, Knott became a full-time jailer and dispatcher a month later. He transferred to patrol in September 1974 and was promoted to detective in 1977. He spent three years investigating narcotics.

Knott made sergeant in 1983 and was later assigned to the federal narcotics task force until his promotion to lieutenant and return to the patrol division in 1989. He transferred to communications in 1994 and was promoted to captain in 2000.

'I really, truly enjoyed the different things I've done,” he said.

Knott said one of the biggest changes he's seen in his career are the changes in technology. When he started off, he didn't wear a radio and carried a six-round revolver. These days, deputies carry radios and a single magazine holds 15 rounds.

One of the biggest challenges in Knott's career came during the floods of 2008. Floodwater inundated the sheriff's office and the radio room took on five feet of water.

'Dave put together an immediate plan to restore our communications,” said Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner. 'Dave was instrumental in getting our communications up and running.”

The plan involved running their radio signal out of a tower at the old County Home - which became a temporary headquarters - and using the Marion Police Department's dispatch center for a period of time.

Knott was also 'very responsible” for implementing the county's joint communications radio system.

'When someone talks about radio communications in Linn County, Dave Knott's name is always mentioned in the discussion,” Gardner said.

However, Knott is reluctant to take credit for his role in those endeavors.

'None of those were accomplished by me singularly,” he said. 'It really is all about teamwork. The whole thing is about teamwork.”

Gardner, who said Knott was present when he tested to be hired 36 years ago, said when someone like Knott leaves, the whole department feels the loss.

'When you lose people like this, you also lose part of the department's history,” he said.

'Dave has been an integral part of this department,” Gardner added. 'I cherish his friendship and I hope when he leaves it doesn't mean we don't get to see each other any more.”

For Knott, the feeling appears to be mutual. When asked what he'll miss the most in retirement, he doesn't hesitate.

'The people,” he said. 'I will definitely miss the people.”