Deputy Mike Foland is excited to be the newest member of the Winneshiek County Sherriff’s Office in Decorah. The eight-year law enforcement veteran and former member of the Navy hails from Independence and was previously a lieutenant with the West Union Police Department. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Foland is newest deputy

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Meet the newest member of the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Mike Foland, who brings with him a resume that includes eight years of experience in the field of law enforcement.

Foland, who was born and raised in nearby Independence, currently resides in Hazleton with his wife, Becky, and children.

“There will be an adjustment period for me in this new role,” admitted the deputy, who most recently served as a lieutenant in the West Union Police Department. “There are a lot of named roads in Winneshiek County, compared to other Iowa counties, so it will take me some time to get familiar with the layout of the county.”

Prior to serving as a lieutenant of the West Union PD, Foland worked for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and, in his first law enforcement job, as a patrol officer in the city of Jesup.

“I am excited to work with such a great group of people here at the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office,” said Foland. “I think it is great how well the Sheriff’s Office is able to work with the Decorah Police Department and other city police departments within the county.”

Having worked in several different capacities in the law enforcement field, Foland noted that many people don’t realize the differences between what the sheriff’s office and town police departments do.

“The sheriff’s office is a servant of the court, so we do things like prisoner transports, serving of legal papers, and committals,” explained the new deputy. “We all do traffic stops and respond to calls, but there is certainly a difference in the day-to-day responsibilities between the two positions.”

Prior to beginning a career in law enforcement, Foland spent eight years in the United States Navy where he worked in damage control, which he explained is essentially a firefighter. During his time in the Navy, Foland served in Operation Desert Storm.

Foland also brings with him over 20 years of experience as a civilian firefighter and EMT.

In his free time, Foland enjoys spending time with his family, as well as spending time outdoors running, fishing, and hunting.

“I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work for the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office,” closed Foland. “It is a beautiful county that is very scenic and has a lot to offer. I am looking forward to moving within the county in the near future.”