Sheriff Tony Thompson took office January 1, 2009 (Article) but started his law enforcement career much earlier. He began in the US Army as a military police officer in December of 1989. His career with the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office began in March of 1994 and he has worked in the Jail, Special Services and Patrol Divisions. His prior assignments include: Drug Education Officer, Community Services Coordinator, Computer Crimes Investigator, Patrol Officer, Public Information Officer and SWAT Team leader prior to taking command of the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Thompson's Biography:
Graduated: Winterset High School 1987, Buena Vista College 1987-89: Communications, University of Northern Iowa 1989-1993: BA- Communication Studies
Elected: November 4th, 2008
Took Office: January 1st, 2009
Wife: Janel Sons: Brady and Bryce
Organizations:
- Currently on the Executive Board for the Aspire Therapeutic Riding Program.
- Currently on the Executive Board for Black Hawk Economic Development, Inc.
- Currently Council President of the Executive Board for the Winnebago Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
- Actively involved in fundraising for Habitat for Humanity and Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Black Hawk County and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
- Actively involved in Iowa Special Olympics and former local coordinator for the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run and Polar Plunge.
- Current member of the American Legion
- Member of Iowa Ducks Unlimited
- Member of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation
- Coaches and Referees Youth Baseball and Youth Wrestling
- Member of the Waterloo Moose Lodge
- Member of the Black Hawk County Democrats' Central Committee
- Member of the ISSDA's (Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association) State Legislative Committee
- Member of the Black Hawk County Chapter of the NAACP
Awards:
- Awarded the McCartney Award from the Iowa Law Enforcement Basic Academy for conscientious performance- 1994
- Awarded the 300 Point Club Award for physical fitness excellence from the Iowa Law Enforcement Basic Academy-1994
- Awarded Deputy of the Year honors for the year 1999
- Awarded the Department of Public Safety, Commissioner’s Special Award for Traffic Safety - 2001
- Awarded the Drug Enforcement Administration's Enrique Camarena "Certificate of Appreciation” for drug enforcement efforts in Black Hawk County-2003.
- Awarded the Iowa Community Betterment Leadership Award from the Governor of the State of Iowa- 2003
- Graduate of the 98th Session of the National Sheriff's Institute, National Sheriff's Association and National Institute of Corrections, Colorado.- 2010
Military Service:
- US Army- Military Police 1989-2009
- Retired from Iowa Army National Guard
- Senior Non-Commissioned Officer/ Operations NCO for Officer Candidate School- Iowa
- Taught Basic and Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Courses, Army Instructor Courses, Installation Security/Physical Security Courses, and Officer Candidate School
Notable Military Awards:
- Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards), Army Commendation Medal (4 Awards), Army Achievement Medal (3 Awards), Iowa Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards), Iowa Commendation Medal (4 Awards), Iowa Leadership Ribbon w/ Torch, Army Humanitarian Service Medal, Iowa State Service Ribbon (5 Awards), and Iowa Humanitarian Service Medal