Mission Statement
The Men and Women of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the citizens of this community, are committed to providing quality, professional law enforcement services to our citizens and visitors through the preservation of peace, order, safety, problem resolution, and education. These services will be delivered in a fair and equitable manner treating all with the dignity due them while reflecting the values of the community.
Contact Information
Phone: (641) 754-6380
Fax: (641) 754-6369
Our Team
Duties
Joel Phillips
The general powers of the sheriff (Section 331.652 of the Code of Iowa):
The sheriff may call upon any person for assistance to:
a. Keep the peace or prevent the commitment of crime;
b. Arrest a person who is liable to arrest;
c. Execute a process of law.
The sheriff, when necessary, may summon the power of the county to carry out the responsibilities of office.
The sheriff may use the services of the Department of Public Safety in the apprehension of criminals and the detection of crime.
The sheriff, with the cooperation of the Commissioner of Public Safety, may hold an annual conference and school of instruction for all peace officers within the county, including regularly organized reserve peace officers under the sheriff's jurisdiction, at which time instructions may be given in all matters relating to the duties of peace officers.
The sheriff may administer oaths and take affirmation on matters relating to the business of the office of sheriff as provided in Section 63A.2 of the Code of Iowa.
The sheriff may serve a subpoena or order issued under the authority of the department of revenue and finance as provided in Section 421.22.
Subject to the requirements of Chapter 341.A and Section 331.903 of the Code of Iowa, the sheriff may appoint and remove deputies, assistants, and clerks.
Duties of the sheriff (Section 331.653 of the Code of Iowa):
Execute and return all writs and other legal process issued to the sheriff by legal authority.
Upon written orders of the County Attorney make a special investigation of any alleged refraction of the law within the county and report findings to the County Attorney within a reasonable time.
Provide bailiff and other law enforcement services to the district judges, district associate judges, and judicial magistrates of the county upon request.
Serve as a member of the joint emergency management commission as provided in section 29C.9.
Enforce the provisions of Chapter 718 of the Code of Iowa relating to the desecrations of flags and insignias.
Carry out duties relating to election contests as provided in Sections 57.6, 62.4, and 62.19 of the Code of Iowa.
Carry out duties relating to the seizure and disposition of illegal oil and gas supplies as provided in Section 458A.15 of the Code of Iowa.
Serves a notice or subpoena received from a board of arbitration.
Cooperate with the division of labor services of the department of employment services in the enforcement of child labor laws as provided in Section 92.22 of the Code of Iowa.
Carry out duties relating to the seizure and forfeiture of cigarettes, vehicles, and other property used in violation of cigarette tax laws as provided in Section 453A.32 of the Code of Iowa.
Observe and inspect any licensed premise for gambling devices and report findings to the licensing authority.
Carry out duties relating to the issuance of permits for the possession, transportation, and detonation of explosive material.
Seize fish and game taken, possessed or transported illegally.
Carry out duties relating to the enforcement of state liquor and beer laws.
Carry out duties relating to the seizure, forfeiture, and sale of conveyances used in state liquor law violations.
Enforce the payment of mobile home taxes.
Carrying out duties relating to the reporting of persons injured in the commission of a crime, either as perpetrator or victim.
Carry out duties relating to the enforcement of livestock transportation laws (Chapter 172B Code of Iowa).
Investigate disputes in the ownership or custody of branded animals.
Destroy any untagged stray animal as provided in Section 351.26 of the Code of Iowa.
Execute a court order involving a person who is to be placed into a state mental health institute.
Carry out duties relating to the involuntary hospitalization of mentally ill persons.
Carry out duties relating to the investigation of reported child abuse cases and the protection of abused children (Section 232.71 of the Code of Iowa).
Remove, upon court order, an indigent person to the county or state of the person's legal settlement.
File a complaint upon receiving knowledge of an indigent person who is ill and may be improved, cured, or advantageously treated by medical or surgical treatment or hospital care as provided in Section 255.2 of the Code of Iowa
Cooperate with the department of transportation, department of public safety and other law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of local and state traffic laws and inspections.
Report the theft and recovery of a registered motor vehicle.
Collect unpaid motor vehicle fees and penalties.
Enforce Section 321.372 through 321.379 of the Code of Iowa relating to school buses.
Upon request assist the department of revenue and the Department of Transportation in the enforcement of motor fuel tax laws.
Have charge of the county jail in the county and custody of the prisoners committed to the jail.
Execute a distress warrant issued to collect delinquent personal property taxes.
Collect delinquent taxes certified by the treasurer.
Notify the department of natural resources of hazardous conditions of which the sheriff is notified.
Carry out duties relating to the condemnation of private property.
Carry out duties relating to the removal and disposition of abandoned motor vehicles.
Carry out duties relating to the service of notice on a jury commissioner or jury manager as provided in section 607A.44
Designate the newspapers in which notices pertaining to the Sheriff’s Office are published.
Carry out the duties relating to the execution of judgments and orders of the court.
Add the amount of advancement made by the holder of the sheriff's sale certificate to the execution, upon certification by the clerk as provided by Section 629.3 of the Code of Iowa.
Upon appointment by the court, serve as receiver of property of a judgment debtor.
Carry out duties relating to the attachment of property.
Carry out duties relating to garnishment.
Carry out duties relating to an action of replevin.
Carry out orders of the court or a judge relating to the service or execution of a Writ of Habeas Corpus.
Carry out duties relating to the disposition of lost property as provided in Chapter 556F of the Code of Iowa.
Carry out orders of the court requiring the sheriff to take custody and deposit or deliver trust funds as provided by Section 636.30 of the Code of Iowa.
Carry out legal processes directed by an appellate court.
Furnish the bureau of criminal identification with criminal identification records and other information upon direction by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
Take the fingerprints of all persons specified under Section 690.2 of the Code of Iowa and forward the fingerprint records to the Commissioner of Public Safety.
Report information on crimes and delinquent acts committed, which would be an aggravated misdemeanor or felony if committed by an adult, and furnish disposition reports on persons arrested and juveniles taken into custody, for a delinquent act and criminal complaints or information or delinquency petitions alleging a delinquent act, filed in any court as provided in Section 692.15 of the Code of Iowa.
Carry out duties related to firearms training and the issuance and revocation of firearms permits as provided in Chapter 724 of the Code of Iowa.
Accept custody of persons handed over to the sheriff by the Department of Public Safety.
Carry out the duties relating to the forfeiture and judgment of bail.
Resume custody of a defendant who is recommitted after bail by order of a magistrate.
Carry out duties relating to the confinement of mentally ill persons or dangerous persons as provided by Section 812.5 of the Code of Iowa.
Bio
Joel Phillips
Sheriff Joel Phillips has served as a peace officer since 2002. He joined the Marshall County Sheriff's Office in 2002 as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to the patrol division. He has served in a number of roles including firearms instructor, rifle instructor, chemical munitions instructor, reserve peace officer instructor, A.L.I.C.E instructor, and Pepperball instructor.
In May 2008, he was assigned to the Mid Iowa Drug Task Force as an investigator for the Marshall County Sheriff's Office. In 2011 Deputy Phillips was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, assigned as the Field Office Unit Supervisor for the Mid Iowa Drug Task Force.
August 2014 Detective/Sergeant Phillips was appointed to serve as Chief Jail Administrator, third in command with responsibilities overseeing the Jail Division.
In February 2017, he appointed as Chief Deputy, assuming the agency role as second-in-command with responsibilities in the area of field-services including patrol, investigations, civil and transportation as well as other administrative duties for the agency.
April 2021 he was appointed as Sheriff
Appointments & Community Involvement
- Drug Endangered Children Multi-Disciplinary Team, 2010-Present
- Child Abuse Prevention Service Executive Board, 2014-Present
- Mid Iowa Drug Task Force Executive Board, 2014-Present
- Iowa Valley Leadership, Class 2014-2015
- Marshall County Drug Court, 2015-Present
- Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Leadership Class #5, 2018
- Marshall County Communication Technical Oversight Board, 2018-2021
- Marshall County Communications Commission Member
- Marshall County 911 Service Board Member
- Marshall County Radio Governance Board Member
Duties
Ben Veren
Makes recommendations pertaining to budgetary and planning matters.
Plans, directs, assigns, and evaluates the work of departmental personnel; monitors all activities of the county Sheriff’s Office ensuring compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, supervises and trains staff.
Compiles and maintains standard operating procedures, reviews employee grievances and leave requests, initiates and approves disciplinary actions needed.
Receives and evaluates complaints and inquires from the general public, attends various meetings and serves as liaison to other law enforcement agencies.
Directs and participates in the preparation and evaluation of case records, reports and correspondence.
Arranges and schedules all facets of extradition assignments.
Prepares all mandated reports pursuant to Sheriff’s Office General Orders and any other reports requested by the Sheriff.
Solicits and secures departmental vehicle purchases.
Performs related duties as may be required and works towards creating harmony between the divisions.
Determines employee staffing needs, and directs orientation and training of personnel, makes work assignments and insures that employee commendations are forwarded to the Sheriff, recommends the degree of employee discipline to the Sheriff.
Maintains close working relationships with the County Attorney’s Office, Clerk of Court, other related agencies.
Ensures that all staff secures and maintains appropriate certification.
Assumes all responsibilities and arrest powers as granted to any normal full-time deputy sheriff.
Exercises supervisory control over all personnel of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, serves as a subordinate to the Sheriff.
Ability to ensure discipline and to deal effectively with noncompliance.
Ability to develop contingency plans to deal with emergency situations and to act decisively in the event of the same.
