Gene HaukoosA life of dedicated service :Gene HaukoosA life of dedicated service I am a native of Estherville.
Graduated from Estherville High School 1968.
During my 23 years in the U.S. Navy, I served in Viet Nam and the first Gulf War, retiring as a Master Chief (E-9).
Currently Nationally Registered Paramedic employed as the Estherville Ambulance Service Director.
Proven Community Leadership :Proven Community Leadership Estherville City Councilman.
Estherville Chamber of Commerce.
Estherville City Council Finance Committee.
Emmet County 911 Board.
Emmet County Public Health Board (Chairman).
Emmet County Veterans Affairs.
Emmet County Organization Of Governments.
Emmet County Emergency Responders (Officer).
Organizations :Organizations VFW Service Officer.
American Legion Adjutant.
Avenue of Flags Treasurer.
Local Housing Authority Chairman.
Awards Received for Community Service :Awards Received for Community Service Volunteer Ambulance Service of the Year.
Citizen of the Year 2000.
VFW Community Service to Youth Award.
State of Iowa Volunteer Award.
Paul Harris Fellow.
VFW Service and Leadership Award.
Seven Seals Award for leadership and support of the National Guard.
Special Congressional Recognition Certificate for service to the community.
Why I decided to run for Sheriff :Why I decided to run for Sheriff Call to duty.
Fix a broken system.
Better use of tax payers money.
Accountability in Government.
Why do I want to be Sheriff? :Why do I want to be Sheriff? Over the past 16 years I have seen what I believe to be a decline in the ability of the Emmet County law enforcement agencies to work together.
This is a inefficient way to provide law enforcement. It is putting officers and citizens at risk and is costing the tax payers.
I can get all departments to work with each other.
Why I want to be sheriff :Why I want to be sheriff I have been in leadership roles for over 30 years.
I have managed systems as small as 5 people to groups of as large as 100, paid and volunteer.
I have a reputation as a problem solver and a organizer.
I listen, research, organize, and provide leadership.
Issues Effecting My Candidacy :Issues Effecting My Candidacy
Who will run the ambulance? :Who will run the ambulance? I will provide supervision.
My wife will run the office.
We will hire some one to help with emergency call.
After completing required training I will take call again.
The current Sheriff responds to ambulance calls.
City Council and Sheriff :City Council and Sheriff There is no conflict interest as long as there is no contract between the city and the county to provide law enforcement.
Countywide Law Enforcement :Countywide Law Enforcement Unresolved Issues
Will there be a cost savings?
Who will be in charge?
The issue needs to be fully reviewed so that we can move forward.
By working and training together we will achieve countywide law enforcement participation.
This will allow us to function as a countywide team just like Fire & EMS are currently doing.
Concealed Weapons Permits :Concealed Weapons Permits I will issue concealed weapons permits to those that pass the required FBI, NCIC background checks.
They will also be required to attend an approved firearms safety course which has classroom and live fire requirements.
If a permit is unable to be issued, an explanation of the reason for denial will be provided.
I am not a certified law enforcement officer :I am not a certified law enforcement officer I served as a police reserve for 5 years prior to my election to the City Council.
I was a jailer until I took over the ambulance service.
For the past 10 years I have served as Tactical Paramedic for the High Risk Arrest Team.
The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) has approved me to teach courses within the ILEA Reserve Officer curriculum.
Not Certified :Not Certified For the past 8 years I have served as a Medical Investigator, investigating more than 36 deaths.
If elected I will have one year to attend the ILEA.
You can not attend the ILEA until sponsored by a law enforcement agency or are elected.
Unresolved Issues for the next sheriffTeam Work :Unresolved Issues for the next sheriffTeam Work I feel the number one issue is the inability of the Emmet County Sheriffs Department and the Estherville Police Department to work together.
As the ambulance Director I have a good working relationship with both departments.
I can get the departments to work together.
Chief Deputy Martens states “The sheriffs department works well with all agencies and no changes are needed”.
Unresolved IssuesEffectiveness & Efficiencies :Unresolved IssuesEffectiveness & Efficiencies Does a county the size of Emmet County need two tactical teams?
Do we need two K-9 units?
Do we need two investigators?
Departments have to go through the dispatcher in order to talk to the other department.
Unresolved IssuesEffectiveness & Efficiencies :Unresolved IssuesEffectiveness & Efficiencies Most deputies have bought their own hand gun. Some of the departments hand guns are over 18 years old. Some are no longer safe to use.
Deputies are using different model handguns. This does not allow for the sharing of ammunition magazines.
Some Deputies are using a mixture of duty ammunition and training ammunition in order to have full magazines.
Unresolved Issues :Unresolved Issues Tires not safe for pursuit.
See next slide.
A deputy told me that he could see wire cords before he was allowed to replace his tires. Equipment safety issues.
Unresolved Issues :Unresolved Issues When deputies use departmental cars to go to training classes some are only paid one way.
We need to maximize the utilization of the departments K-9 unit. The dog is not used very often. Seldom on duty.
Bullet proof vest bought with out ballistic plates. The vest stops the bullet, the plates stop the internal injury.
Unresolved Issues :Unresolved Issues Video equipment in squad cars and Jail are in the need of repair or replacement.
The next slide shows the jail video station.
One camera is not working others are to dark to see.
Some new cameras have been bought. But are waiting for the old one to fail before replacing them.
Unresolved Issues :Unresolved Issues The 911 system upgrade is still no where close to starting.
The 911 board set up a committee almost three years ago.
The sheriff’s department had control issues with the committee so in January 2008 he set up his own committee (for the most part it is the same the people that are the 911 boards committee). At the last two 911 meetings no one from the sheriff’s department attended.
911 System :911 System As of the spring of 2008 there has been an agreement between the Emmet County Sheriffs Department, Emmet County, the city of Estherville, and the Emmet County 911 board to fund the 911 upgrade.
At this time it appears that the earliest the upgrade will take place is spring 2009.
The next group of slides shows the current state of your 911 system.
This system has been managed by the Emmet County Sheriffs Department for more than 15 years.
Unresolved IssuesTactical team :Unresolved IssuesTactical team There are 4 Emmet County employees on the team.
3 deputies and 1 conservation Officer.
They meet once a month for 8 hours of M.A.R.T. training.
4x8= 32 hours a month x 12 months= 384 hours a year.
The average hourly wage $20.00 x 384 hours = $7,680 a year not counting overtime and call out pay.
The 384 hours of time taken away from law enforcement in Emmet County.
Unresolved Issues Tactical Team :Unresolved Issues Tactical Team The cost to join the team that Estherville is a member of is $1,500.00 with no requirement to provide people.
The current budget line item for the M.A.R.T. team is $1,500.00.
The 384 hours spent in team training will be used in rural law enforcement coverage.
Unresolved Issues Dispatching :Unresolved Issues Dispatching Fire and EMS emergency response.
The current policy requires a deputy or reliable person at the scene to give permission for Fire to respond to motor vehicle crashes calls lights and sirens.
Waiting for the deputy to arrive on scene then calling fire is an unreasonable delay.
I received a grant 8 years ago to train dispatchers to give medical information to people that call 911. They have never been recertified.
Inspections :Inspections Jail inspection Dec.13, 2007
Comment: Not having a jailor 24 hour a day seven days a week.
Hired another jailor effective Aug. 04, 2008. There still are times covered by using the dispatcher as a jailor or paying a deputy wages.
InspectionJail :InspectionJail Comment: Mattresses are showing signs
of excessive wear.
Corrective action: Replace Mattresses.
$6,777.52 of jail budget not spent.
New Mattresses bought 9/08. 9 months after the inspection and 3 months into the new FY.
FIRE MARSHAL’S INSPECTIONMay 14 2008 :FIRE MARSHAL’S INSPECTIONMay 14 2008 VIOLATIONS FOUND
Install a 5 lb ABC fire extinguisher on wall by the bottom steps.
Remove all extinguishers that are outdated and do not have current inspection tags.
Replace extinguishers in the Comm center and in the corridor by the Comm Center.
FIRE MARSHAL’S INSPECTION :FIRE MARSHAL’S INSPECTION The last 6 year inspection was 1999.
These extinguishers may not be 6 year or hydrostat tested.
Provide a cover for electrical elbow in cell 129.
Fire Drill 12-10-07, Fire alarm inspection 8-30-07.
Annual Sheriff’s Audit 2004 :Annual Sheriff’s Audit 2004 During the audit it was noted that the sheriff’s office maintains separate financial institution accounts for drug investigations, DARE, canine, and posse.
Recommendation: Recommend these four accounts be closed and remitted to the County Treasurer to maintain on the behalf of the Sheriff’s Office.
Audit :Audit Response: We will close these accounts
and remit the funds to the
County Treasurer.
Same error found in 2005 & 2006 audit.
Also has the MART check book.
Iowa North District Court :Iowa North District Court Jan 11, 1999 #C99-3002MUB
The Estate of Gregory Sky Erickson VS Emmet County Sheriff Larry Lamack, Deputy Sheriff Mike Martens, and others charged with 7 counts of wrongful death & other charges.
Emmet County settled out of court for the amount $50,000.00 their part of the $195,000.00. settlement. The city of Estherville paid zero.
BudgetsFY 2008 :BudgetsFY 2008 Reviewing the Sheriff Departments FY 2008 year end budget.
The money not used is automatically turned back to the general fund.
General office supplies administration $1,867.00.
Uniforms $930.32 not used. Only 53% spent. Some Deputies were told there was no money left in the budget.
It appears that line item is not enough to cover required funding.
Budget FY 2008 :Budget FY 2008 Posse, 36% spent, $481.81 turned in.
Education & training, 41% spent,$1,172.89 returned.
Radio & related equipment 10% used $1,356.07 returned.
Jail BudgetFY 2008 :Jail BudgetFY 2008 Jail supplies 85% spent, $304.33 returned.
Jailer uniforms 46% spent, $484.74 returned. Some Jailers told there was no more money.
Education & training 71% $571.22 returned.
Adult Correctional Services General supplemental, 69% spent, $6,136.52 returned.
Jail inspection needed new mattresses.
BudgetsFY 2008 :BudgetsFY 2008 Communications.
Minor equipment 56% spent, $660.15 returned.
Uniforms 77% spent, $231.00 returned.
Some dispatchers told there was no money left in the account.
Budgets FY 2008 :Budgets FY 2008 Communications general supplemental office & data processing equipment. 0% spent, $300.00 returned.
Data recorder has problems.
Telephones held up with a wooden 2x2.
If elected Sheriff :If elected Sheriff I will make sure the budget is use to correct inspection discrepancies before returning funds.
Employees will receive their full $300 clothing allowance if needed.
At year end I will ensure needs are met before I return money.
Once the needs are met I will return unspent money.
I will not hold or hide any checking accounts.
As Sheriff :As Sheriff I see my job as that of an administrator that oversees a dedicated group of seasoned Deputies, Dispatchers, and Jailers.
I will allow them to do what they have been trained and hired to do.
My military service has taught me to listen to the troops and when possible involve them in the problem solving process.
I also understand that you can delegate authority but not responsibility.
As Sheriff :As Sheriff When hiring deputies I will use the Multi-Agency testing center.
This provide us with more eligible candidates at a lower testing fee.
I will advertise all position openings.
UNDERSTANDING :UNDERSTANDING I understand that respect is earned.
I understand that a leader is to provide leadership.
I understand that using fear and intimidation will not earn you respect or provide good leadership.
As Sheriff :As Sheriff I have had leadership training in the Navy.
I have been in REAL positions of leadership for over 30 years.
I have management and organizational training and experience.
Vote for proven leadership :Vote for proven leadership I can bring all of the Emmet County law enforcement agencies together.
I will have an open door policy for the department employees, county & city officials and the public.
I will follow recommendations of state inspectors and auditors.
We will continue 24/7 protection for the citizens of Emmet County. Providing you with a safe and crime free place to live, work, and play.
We will provide countywide education on current scams and crimes. Identity thief, lottery, e-mail, and home repair scams.
We will continue working with the youth of Emmet County. DARE, Halloween Association, Youth Fishing Day, and help with the Hunter Safety Course.
Your Turn :Your Turn Questions.
E-mail ghaukoos@ncn.net
Home Phone 712-362-3698
Gene Haukoos
303 North 17th Court
Estherville, Iowa 51334