Sheriff Brian D. Gardner
Sheriff Brian Gardner began his career with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in 1980 as a communications operator. He became a reserve deputy sheriff in 1981 and began working as a fulltime deputy sheriff in 1982. As a deputy sheriff he worked in the Jail, Civil, Patrol, and General Services Divisions. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1994 where he worked in the General Services and Jail Divisions. In 1997, he was promoted to Lieutenant and became the jail’s first Assistant Jail Administrator. He was promoted to Captain in 2000. In 2002, he was reassigned to the Patrol Division as the division commander. In 2008, he was appointed a Second Deputy with the rank of Major, overseeing the Patrol and Communications Divisions. He was elected Sheriff in 2008, assuming the position on January 1, 2009.
Sheriff Gardner is a Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School graduate. He received an Associate of Science degree in Law Enforcement from Kirkwood Community College in 1991, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Mount Mercy College in 1995, and a Master of Public Administration degree in Criminal Justice from City University in Bellevue, Washington in 2004.
Sheriff Gardner is a graduate of the 199th session of the FBI National Academy and the 99th session of the National Sheriffs’ Institute. He has been a state certified Emergency Medical Technician since 1981. He currently serves as the chairperson of the Linn County Emergency Management Commission and on the executive board of the Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association. Sheriff Gardner is also a member of numerous professional organizations and serves on several local boards and committees.
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