Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Pals enters final two weeks on the job

MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals is entering his final couple of weeks on the job. Pals announced earlier this year that he would not run for another term and that he was retiring from the position.

Pals says many things have changed in the 24 years he’s been in the position, including computer technology being used in patrol vehicles. “When I first started as sheriff in 2001, we did not have computers in our cars. I initiated that program in the early 2000s, started simple with computers, and they really didn’t have a lot of connectivity. Once the technology came early on after that, then we had cell cards. Finally the state got some programs that we could run in our cars after that fact. So we have a records management in our cars, we can see the jail records management, so it’s just a mass amount of information.”

Pals says another accomplishment was getting a new law enforcement center and jail constructed on Mason City’s west side.  “Prior to me being sheriff, they tried the bond referendum, and that failed, and we tried it twice when I was sheriff. I think I did 23 public presentations around the county for the people to see why we needed change in a bigger jail, because at that time we were housing inmates out of county, paying other counties to house our inmates. It was kind of like throwing money away.”

Pals says his 46 years in law enforcement has been a rewarding experience. “A very rewarding job. No regrets. And I don’t have one big thing that’s ‘oh I’m glad I did this’. I have been blessed with a lot of great people around me and under me to make me look really good, and I think that’s what it takes is people working together. It’s not about me, it’s about the good guys finding bad guys and helping victims.”

Pals will be replaced by current Chief Deputy David Hepperly, who won election to the position in November.

You can hear more of Pals interview as part of our monthly “Crimestoppers Update” by clicking here.