NOTHWOOD, IOWA – Worth county sheriff Jay Langenbau has broken his vow of silence with NIT, saying that his “right hand man” deputy Dan Fank decided to run against him for sheriff after Langenbau demoted him.
Jay Langenbau has ignored questions from NIT for nearly 4 years, ever since NIT reported on a vicious domestic abuse story. Allegedly, Sheriff Langenbau picked up Jacob J. Jackson walking along a rural road back in 2012. Jackson had been kicked out of his car by his wife after a night of drinking and arguing in Mason City. Sheriff Langenbau confirmed to NIT in a phone interview after that incident that Jackson told him he intended to harm his wife as Sheriff Langenbau drove Jackson to his home in Hanlontown that night. “I can’t arrest someone for that,” Langenbau said in the interview. “If we arrested everyone for saying they were going to do something, we would have no place to put them, our jails would be past full.” Sheriff Langenbau dropped Jackson off and he proceeded to beat his wife. After a 911 call, a deputy arrived and arrested Jackson. In December 2012, he pled guilty to domestic abuse assault.
Ever since that phone interview and proceeding reporting of the incident, Sheriff Langenbau has virtually stonewalled NIT and even told employees at the courthouse not to read NIT, give NIT information, or visit our website.
However, Sheriff Langenbau has now broken this his silence and responded to our questions regarding the candidacy for sheriff of his “right hand man”, deputy Dan Fank, and the near-simultaneous demotion of deputy Fank.
NIT reported that Dan Fank was demoted by Sheriff Langenbau and his supervisor position “was taken away from him and his shift was changed to overnights.” Allegedly, this behavior manifested once deputy Fank told Langenbau he intended to run for his seat as sheriff. A Worth county source told NIT that Fank was warned by Langenbau there would be a consequence if he did not reconsider running for sheriff – one of which would be demotion. That demotion was handed down, but allegedly would be recinded if deputy Fank scrapped his pursuit for sheriff, which Fank apparently will not do.
However, Sheriff Langenbau tells a slightly different – but important – version of this story; he does not deny the demotion of deputy Fank, but says the announcement for sheriff came after deputy Fank was demoted.
“Dan Fank was relieved of his Chief Deputy position on Wednesday January 27th and continues to be a Deputy Sheriff for the Worth County Sheriff’s Office. Fank announced his running for Sheriff on Sunday January 31st,” Sheriff Langenbau explained to NIT.
In a subsequent question to Sheriff Langenbau asking why deputy Fank was demoted, no answer was immediately given.
Apparently taking the high road, Sheriff Langenbau says “Dan has been a close friend of mine, my family and the Worth County Sheriff’s Office for almost 16 years and I wish him well in his personal and work decisions.”
Sheriff Langenbau tells NIT that he is seeking his 3rd term as Sheriff this coming election.
“I have worked hard in law enforcement for over 19 years and the past 7+ years as Sheriff of an outstanding modernized and well operational Sheriff’s Office with exceptional staff who are well trained and continue to get trained to help keep the citizens of Worth County and visitors safe.”
He says he “put a lot of heart in my job, my family, my employees, and the people of Worth County.”
The election will be held later this year.
