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| Patrol Division |
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| Criminal Investigation |
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| Special Units |
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| Corrections Division |
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| Civil Division |
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| Canine Unit |
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Deputy Holtrop and Jeb
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The Sioux County Sheriff's Office Canine Unit has its roots with the Northwest Iowa Drug Task Force. In 1991 Deputy Sheriff Gerry Holtrop was named director of the Northwest Iowa Drug Task Force -
in charge of illegal drug investigations for Sioux and Lyon County. This was the initiation of a major emphasis by local law enforcement to fight the war on drugs. By the year 1995 the local drug dealers
had become very aware of the new pressure on them and their illegal activity. Deputy Holtrop saw that dealers and users were making it harder for law enforcement to find their illegal drugs - by hiding them in more difficult locations.
In May of 1995 Deputy Holtrop received permission to locate the first ever drug dog for the Sioux County Sheriff's Office.
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After searching a variety of canine trainers, a two year old black Labrador by the name of Jeb was purchased. Jeb was given three months of training; he was then joined by Deputy Holtrop for two more weeks of training as the two became a team. In September of 1995 Holtrop returned to the sheriff's office with his new partner.
For ten years Jeb served Sioux County and many other neighboring counties as he "sniffed" out numerous amounts of illegal drugs, sometimes found in the most unusual places. As a result of Jeb's "good nose", many local drug dealers and users have gone to jail. Search warrants were issued solely from Jeb's nose, telling where the drugs were hidden. Jeb was also trained in tracking and assisted in looking for criminals who had fled the scene of a crime; no matter where they hid, Jeb would find them. Jeb worked very hard to get the job done, all for the sake of his final reward, a "tennis ball."
Jeb was also very well known in the county for the number of school programs and demonstrations he performed to show the public just how easy it was for him to help "take a bit out of crime."
On the night of May 15, 2005 Jeb was rushed to his vet because of a medical condition. It was determined that he had a tumor in his lung and there was very little that anyone could do. Jeb died the following morning. It was a sad day for the Sheriff's Office. He will always be missed.
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In June of 2005 Roy Nielsen III, the owner of Revival Animal Health, Inc. in Orange City, IA., approached Sheriff Dan Altena with an idea to initiate a fundraising program for a new drug dog. During the next few months over 100 donations came in with the end result of $22,000 being raised to cover the cost of purchasing new canines for the Sioux County Sheriff's Office.
A new 13 month old yellow Labrador was purchased from Midwest K-9 Detection & Consulting of Des Moines, IA., where she was also trained. "MOLLY" and her handler, Deputy Sheriff Justin DeBruin, made their first public appearance at Kinsey Elementary School in Sioux Center, IA. on May 1, 2006.
Molly is trained in locating illegal drugs and tracking.
Future plans are to purchase a second dog, a German Shepherd. The second dog will be trained in drug searches, tracking, and officer protection.
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Deputy De Bruin and Molly
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