Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office

10/20/2026

Tuesday, October 20th, 2026 marks the five-year anniversary of Trooper Ted Benda #313's line of duty death. He is remembered as a dedicated Trooper, loving family man, and valued member of the law enforcement community.

A ceremony will be held at "Freedom Rock" in Waukon City Park this Tuesday. Give Blue Hope has donated a memorial bench in his honor. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

10/19/2026

Thanks to Les and Nell KVIK Radio and everyone who supported this great ride and fundraiser for the Winneshiek County K9 and Winneshiek Ag Association/Winneshiek County Fair.

10/14/2026

Saturday, October 17th Winneshiek County Fairgrounds Registration: 8:30 AM Ride leaves promptly at 10:00 AM $50 per rig 50/50 Raffle Free-will offerin

10/12/2026

The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office is currently accepting applications for a Full-Time Deputy Sheriff.

***Certified Officers from any state are preferred & encouraged to apply. ***

SALARY: Top salary is currently at $41.76/hr. after 18 months of service.

Benefits include: IPERS pension, 10 paid holidays at your overtime rate, clothing allowance, medical insurance, vacation, sick leave, longevity and shift differential.

TO APPLY: Printed Applications are available at the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office or https://winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov/jobs for electronic version.

Please submit a completed application, resume, cover letter and 3 references to the Sheriff’s Office or email [email protected]

DEADLINE: 4pm on October 19th, 2026.
Winneshiek County is an EOE, Veteran Preference & Disability Employer.

10/12/2026

10/07/2026

Subject in custody.

10/07/2026

Winneshiek County Jail Receives Iowa DOC “Best of the Best” Award

The Winneshiek County Jail has been recognized as one of the top-performing medium-sized jails in the State of Iowa, receiving the prestigious “Best of the Best” award from the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC).

The award recognizes the exceptional efforts and commitment demonstrated by jail staff in the daily operation and management of the facility. The achievement reflects the professionalism, dedication and attention to detail exhibited by the entire Winneshiek County Jail team.

The Iowa Department of Corrections established the “Best of the Best” award in 2017 to formally recognize exceptional efforts in jail operations. Some of the criteria for this award include but are not limited to:
- Cleanliness: The daily condition and sanitation of the facility
- Facility maintenance: The upkeep, repair, and overall stewardship of the physical plant
- Records management: Meticulous, accurate, and complete documentation
- Safety and treatment of staff and inmates: The security of the facility and the humane, professional treatment of everyone inside it
- Overall management of jail operations: A well-managed operation in its entirety

The recognition celebrates jails that demonstrate excellence in operations and management while maintaining a strong focus on the safety and well-being of both incarcerated individuals and staff.

Under Iowa Code Chapter 356, all county jails in Iowa are subject to an annual inspection by the Iowa Department of Corrections to ensure compliance with the Iowa Administrative Code’s Jail Standards. The inspection process includes a comprehensive review of daily jail documentation, a tour of the facility, interaction with incarcerated individuals, and an operational review conducted by a DOC inspector.

The Winneshiek County Jail’s most recent inspection, conducted on September 23, 2026, was noted to have a clean, well-managed and well-maintained jail with complete and organized documentation by the Iowa Department of Corrections.

“This recognition is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our entire jail staff,” said Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx. “The work our jailers do each day is often behind the scenes, but it is extremely important. They are responsible for the safety and security of the facility while also ensuring the humane and dignified treatment of our inmates. This award is a well-deserved recognition of their commitment.”

The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office extends its appreciation to all current and former jail staff whose dedication and professionalism have contributed to the success of the Winneshiek County Jail.

Congratulations to the entire Winneshiek County Jail team on this outstanding achievement!

10/06/2026

The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office is proud to congratulate Deputy Cole Tweten, who was recently recognized as one of five recipients of the 2026 Young Professional Award by the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce at their 2026 Business Awards Event.

Cole was recognized for his dedication to his work and community, including his role in helping identify a man who had been buried as “unknown” in a Winneshiek County cemetery for nearly 40 years.

His commitment, investigative work and determination helped bring answers to a long-standing mystery and, most importantly, helped restore a name and identity to someone who had been unknown for decades.

We would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU to the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce for recognizing Cole and the positive impact he is making in our community.

Congratulations to Cole and all of the 2026 award recipients! And thank you to Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum for hosting the awards celebration at Hanson Commons.

We are proud to have Cole representing the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office and our community!

More Photos from the 2026 Business Awards Event https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17eeyHS1Dj/

More about the case Deputy Cole Tweten solved
https://decorahnews.com/news/18423/winneshiek-county-deputy-honored-after-helping-solve-40-year-old-cold-case/

10/06/2026

UPDATE: 10/6/2026 at 3:50 p.m. - Mr. Johnson has still not been located by law enforcement. He is wanted on several charges. Please call 911 immediately if you have information of his whereabouts.

**Note: We have since received information he no longer has a beard as shown in the past booking photo.

On October 6, 2026, the Winneshiek Communications Center received a 911 call to check the welfare of a woman who had been severely assaulted and ran from the residence to seek help. The suspect (Chad Johnson) fled from law enforcement on foot from the residence at 701 Centrum Drive in Decorah, Iowa. Law Enforcement is on scene and attempting to locate Chad Johnson. He was last seen wearing gray shirt & navy blue sweatpants. Do NOT make contact with him. We encourage the public to lock house doors and outbuilding doors. Call 911 immediately if he is seen.