Meet the candidates in the Howard County Sheriff's election

CRESCO - Two candidates are included on the ballot for Sheriff of Howard County for the election on November 5, 2024. Richard Hollenbeck and Rick Busch have announced their candidacy, and have posted signs throughout Howard County, leaning on impressive resumes and promises of continuous improvement as they compaign for office. 

 

Richard Hollenbeck

Richard Hollenbeck grew up on a farm northeast of Kendallville. He attended the Howard-Winneshiek School District, before graduating from Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo with an AAS Degree in Police Science.

Hollenbeck started his career in 1996 with Winneshiek County and the Decorah Police Department as a reserve officer. In 2000, he was hired full-time with the Cresco Police Department. He was certified at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 2001. In January of 2014, Hollenbeck was sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff for the Howard County Sheriff. 

Hollenbeck has worked for the Howard County Sheriff's Office for the last 10 years, and is currently a Deputy with an Investigator title. He leads the DARE program at all the schools in Howard County, while also teaching a 911 program. He has 28 years of continuous law enforcement experience under his belt. 

Hollenbeck currently resides in Cresco with his wife and children. 

“I look forward to many years of leadership if elected Sheriff,” says Hollenbeck, and asks that if anyone has any questions regarding his campaign, to please reach out.

 

Rick Busch

Rick Busch was born Maquoketa, IA and raised in a small town in east central Iowa. 

He graduated from high school early, and worked as an agricultural mechanic for two years, before joining the United States Air Force. He served  on active duty for 12 years with the Intelligence Service and Special Warfare Combat Control Teams.

 Busch was later hired as a State Trooper with the Iowa State Patrol, and after graduation from the Iowa Department of Public Safety Academy, was assigned to Howard County. He explains the cross over of military service and entering the civilian workforce: “While serving as a State Trooper I continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve component for nine (9) additional years as an Individual Mobility Augmentee (IMA).  As an IMA Reservist I deployed with active-duty special warfare units before cross training into the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) as a Special Agent. Between the three career fields and  21 years of service I have trained throughout the United States and conducted military operations in over twenty-five (25) foreign countries.” 

Busch held many leadership roles throughout his service career including Special Warfare Combat Control Team Leader, and led men in ground combat in the Middle East. He also led US military teams in Central and South America, Europe and Africa while conducting Foreign Internal Defense, Counterdrug and Surveillance operations.

 During his time as an AFOSI Special Agent he served as “a Protective Service Operations/Counterterror Team Leader, Detail Leader while serving as a bodyguard for senior leaders of the US Department of Defense and visiting foreign Secretaries of Defense.”

Busch is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for “actions during ground combat against Iraqi forces amid airfield seizure operations.” He was also awarded  a “Meritorious Service Medal for serving as Protective Service Detail Leader for the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF), Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff,” and “received five USAF Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, among others.” Busch was one of two Lead Instructors at the Air Force PSO/Counterterrorism School.

He also received awards for Iowa State Patrol Chief’s Commendations for Tactical Team operational planning and serving over 250 high risk search and arrest warrants around the state. He received recognition in his role as a DPS Academy Firearms and Tactics Instructor.

Busch’s specialized training includes the completion of “23 different military schools ranging from Counterintelligence/ Force Protection to US Army Special Forces Combat Diver (SCUBA) to Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE).” He held a Top Secret SBI/SCI level clearance for over 20 years.  Busch has 29 years of law enforcement experience and served as State Trooper and Sergeant with the Iowa State Patrol for 24 years and 5 years as a Special Agent with the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE). 

He also has been awarded “26 certifications ranging from Physical Surveillance for Counterdrug operations to High Risk Incident Operations to Field Training Officer.”

Busch worked in various undercover roles purchasing methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and stolen guns. He conducted federal and state investigations regarding narcotics, firearms trafficking, and bomb manufacturing.

Busch has also been a small business owner since 2003, training educators, private and government employees, including law enforcement and military personnel how to survive in high risk situations.  He has managed a budget and understands the daily concerns business owners have regarding theft, robbery, burglary, and fraud.  As Sheriff, he would address those issues with small business owners in Howard County.

 “My goals if elected Howard County Sheriff will be to build a team environment through effective leadership, training and accountability. Properly trained and skilled team members are better equipped to effectively enforce the laws, settle conflicts and serve and protect our residents.  With an effective team we can reduce illicit drug distribution and criminal activity throughout Howard County.  There are talented Deputies, Dispatchers and Jailers currently serving who want to improve their effectiveness and like me, make Howard County a safer and stronger place to live and work.” 

He “will bring strong communication skills, knowledge of law and best enforcement practices, ethical behavior both on and off duty, and will lead by example” in the role of Howard County Sheriff.   

He encourages anyone with questions regarding his candidacy to reach out.