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.
16 thoughts on “Worth Sheriff Langenbau says Fank campaign announced after demotion”
Give it to Wubben 🙂
since when does running for sheriff make someone a back stabber? It is a right any deputy or citizen of the county has and you should know that if you know so much about each position that the department has
Change sounds like it may be needed.People of Worth Co. know how it has been for a while.It just doesn’t come to light until election time and if change is needed it will happen.
People get your facts right. The “Chief Deputy” serves at the will of the sheriff. The Chief deputy is not covered under civil service laws or the union like the other deputies. So you Langenbau bashers are saying if Joe Bidenhad told Obama after Obama’s first four years that he (Biden)was running for president, Obama would have not gotten rid of Biden. People, wake up and smell the coffee. I would rather have Gentz back in office than the BACK STABBER Fank
Whether it is legal for him to do it is not the discussion. Its the fact that what Langenbau did was selfish, unethical and childish. In addition he has put at risk many of the programs Dan handled and did for the County. This is a perfect example of someone who thinks only of himself at the cost of everyone else. Its time for Langenbau to go away.
Everyone has known and hoped Fank would run for a long time. Here’s the reason Im voting for Fank. Sheriff Jay hasnt been seen for 2 years. He works maybe one day a week if its a good week. Dan has run the office for the last 2 years, thats why it is run so well. I called and left 5 messages for Jay to call me back, never happened. When asking at the sheriffs office why it wasnt returned, they said there are 40-50 messages on his door, hes never there to get them. Funny thing though, after Dan announced, Sheriff Jay has been to work this day, putting out the school stop sign and talking on the scaanner.
It’s very obvious to me this rag of a paper has nothing good to say about our sheriff Jay Langenbau. He has done great as our sheriff over the past 7 years. I will support him all the way to his next election. Not many people read this rag because it is so one sided and only tells half truths
I’ve read both stories. Do they seem one sided?? We all are entitled to our opinions and views. What I see are two stories… both telling their own version. Just because you may not like or believe what was said doesn’t mean it’s not true. The truth will come out eventually. I’m not going hide behind anonymity. I have nothing against Jay. I’ve met him a few times and he seemed to be decent. Each person has the choice to vote for who they think will do a better job. I personally feel a change is needed and Dan is the right guy for the job.
What “great job” has HE done? I would love to hear the examples of what you consider he has done.
If an elected official who has taken an oath of office to uphold the law will lie, then will that same individual lie in a court of law about the innocence or guilt of a member of the public? We need honesty in government.
so sad that politics have to always come down to this. I also signed Dan’s papers on January, 28th and he was still the chief at that time.
This is ridiculous. I and everyone else knows that the demotion occurred due to the fact of running for sheriff. Shame on you Mr current sheriff for trying to weasel out of this and not standing with youyour choices. I am sickened by this.
This is untrue. Officer Dan Fank came to me and some others with a petition on Tuesday the 26th and announcing his run for sheriff. So was being demoted tied to the fact that he was running for sheriff?
Correction he brought it to us on Wednesday the 27th before he got demoted.
Just because someone fills out papers to run for office does not necessarily they have announced their candidacy. So theoretically Fank could have had people sign his papers before he announced he was running. Worth County does need change I personally am unsure if Fank is that change. I have had experiences with both that have been pleasant and unpleasant. Neither are what I would consider honest/trustworthy. Unfortunately, that is our political atmosphere currently throughout our nation.
I don’t live in Worth county, but I know people who do. Since I don’t live there, I don’t have an opinion. Except to say, there is always two sides to a story, and eventually the truth will come out. It’s like Anonymous said on the first story. “Politics is a dirty lying game and to the winners goes the money power and graft.”