Wapello County Sheriff's Office

05/08/2026

In honor of National Correctional Officers week, the Wapello County Sheriff's Office would like you to meet the people behind the walls: our WCSO Corrections Division.

They were asked to answer one of two questions:
• What is one thing about this job you enjoy or love to do?
• Why did you choose this career path, and what has made it easy to stay?

Each officer comes from a different background with a different story and why they chose this career, but they all share one common goal — helping people who are at their worst times in life.

Corrections is more than what people see from the outside. It is long hours, difficult situations, teamwork, accountability, and the commitment to making a difference inside our facility and throughout our community. To do this job well, you have to have a great deal of empathy and compassion. No, not every day are rainbows and sunshine behind these concrete walls no matter how hard we hope. Our sanity is gone most days, our limits get tested, and our dedication gets questionable at times, but one thing all these Correctional Officers don’t do, they don’t ever give up!

We hope these introductions give everyone a better insight into why we proudly wear the badge and serve Wapello County each day. Be sure to ‘Thank’ a Correctional officer not only this week, but anytime you see or know of one. Please help us by showing our ‘thanks and gratitude’ to the individuals who help keep our facility safe and running 24/7, as we shine the spotlight on them!
Thank you to all our Correctional Officers for the work you do, the sacrifices you make, and the dedication you continue to show every day.
Iowa State Sheriffs' & Deputies' Association

05/05/2026

This week, we take a moment to honor the incredible Correctional Officers of the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office. Every day, these dedicated men and women face difficult and demanding situations with courage, compassion, and professionalism. There are many challenges and hardships they face daily; this job is not for the weak. It requires strength, resilience, and a deep commitment to serving others, often under stressful and sometimes dangerous conditions.

They work tirelessly to maintain safety for more individuals than just themselves. A selfless act that goes without being seen from the public eye. We are grateful for their commitment and the sacrifices they make to protect and serve. Their work often happens behind the scenes, but it is vital to the well-being of our community.

To all the Correctional Officers at the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, thank you for your unwavering dedication. Your strength and willingness are an inspiration to us all.

If you know a Correctional Officer, please take a moment this week to thank them and show your gratitude. Their hard work and care deserve to be recognized and appreciated.

"No group of Americans has a more difficult or less publicly visible job than the brave men and woman who work in our correctional facilities." -President Ronald Reagan

05/05/2026

Press Release

On May 4, 2026, at approximately 2047 hours, a residential fire was reported in the 4000 block of 63rd Avenue in Eldon, Wapello County, Iowa. The fire resulted in the death of one Wapello County resident. The individual’s name is being withheld at this time pending notification of family members.

The investigation is being conducted by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office and the State of Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office.

The fire was battled for several hours by Eldon Fire Department, Agency Fire Department, Wapello County Fire Department, and Batavia Fire Department, with assistance from the Ottumwa Fire Department and ORMICS.

Additional information will be released at a later time.

04/17/2026

We wrapped up National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week with our annual cookout, taking time to recognize the incredible work of our dispatchers.

Their role requires a unique balance of skills—remaining calm while callers may be in crisis, showing compassion while asking urgent and sometimes difficult questions, and quickly gathering critical information to send the right help. Our 911 Communications Center is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year. They are the first point of contact in any emergency, and we are truly grateful for their professionalism and dedication.

During the cookout, we were also proud to present Deputy Seth Hobbs with a plaque in recognition of the recent retirement of K9 Luna.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the dispatchers who serve our office and the Ottumwa Police Department. Their work is essential, and they play one of the most important roles in keeping our community safe.

04/10/2026

🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨

It’s 2026, and unfortunately scams have become an everyday occurrence—but this one hit close to home.

We’ve received multiple reports of calls involving someone claiming to be Wapello County Deputy Kobes. Callers are being told they missed jury duty and are being asked to pay money to avoid a warrant being issued.

This is a scam.

Neither Deputy Kobes nor any member of the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office will contact you by phone to demand payment for missing jury duty.

If you receive a call like this:
• Do not provide any personal or financial information
• Do not send money
• Hang up immediately

Please help spread the word and protect others from falling victim.

04/07/2026

In 2019, Sheriff Don Phillips recognized a need for K9 units in Wapello County, and fundraising efforts quickly began. Within weeks of submitting grant applications, the program was fully funded thanks to generous community support. Two K9s were purchased, and training was underway.

K9 Luna was our first K9 and immediately hit the streets alongside Sheriff’s Deputy Seth Hobbs. Since 2019, Luna has proven to be one of the most loyal and hardworking members of the Sheriff’s Office. She has not only done her job exceptionally well—but gone above and beyond every single day.

Throughout her career, Luna has helped locate fleeing and missing individuals, removed her fair share of illegal narcotics from the streets of Wapello County, and—perhaps her favorite duty—served as an outstanding ambassador in the community. She loved visiting schools, attending parades, and making appearances at local events, always eager for a little extra attention.

After seven years of dedicated service to the citizens of Wapello County, Luna is officially retiring. Now, her days will be spent chasing a ball in the yard instead of suspects in the middle of the night.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Luna for her incredible service. We also want to thank Deputy Hobbs and his entire family for the countless hours of care, training, and commitment they gave to ensure Luna was always ready to serve—and always well loved.
If you have photos of Luna, we would love to see them—please share them in the comments below.

Happy retirement, Luna! And don’t let Deputy Hobbs forget—you may be retired, but he’s not… so be sure to remind him often.

03/15/2026

FYI

03/12/2026

Missing Since March 6: Search for Mary Anne Falk Continues
https://ottumwaradio.com/2026/03/missing-since-march-6-search-for-mary-anne-falk-continues/

03/10/2026

A huge thank you to our amazing community establishments for helping make this year's Ottumwa Kids Fest at Bridgeview even more special for local kids!

The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Ottumwa Walmart location, for generously donating two bikes that were given away to kids during Kids Fest. Your support helps create excitement and unforgettable moments for the youth in our community.

We’d also like to thank Ace Graphics from Eldon, for donating stickers and Jr. Deputy shirts for the kids at the Ottumwa Kids Fest. Your contribution helps make the event even more fun and memorable for the kids who attend.

It’s partnerships like these that the Wapello County Sheriff's Office is greatly appreciative for! Your donations truly show how much our community cares about its youth. Thank you for helping us make Ottumwa Kids Fest a great experience for everyone!

03/10/2026