Command Staff
First Chief Deputy
Chief Robert Stanton began serving the citizens of Polk County in 1998. Chief Stanton has worked in every division of the Sheriff’s Office and with several Task Forces within the metro area. Chief Stanton has attended Des Moines Area Community College, Upper Iowa University, University of Virginia, Des Moines Regional Police Academy, and the FBI National Academy class #274. Chief Stanton is a member of several civic and law enforcement organizations, and was the founding President of the Iowa chapter for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. (N.O.B.L.E) Chief Stanton is a lifelong Polk County resident.
Chief Steve Hoffman
Chief Steve Hoffman is a second generation peace officer that began his career in 1991 serving communities in Marshall and Jasper Counties until joining the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office in 1994 as a deputy sheriff assigned to the patrol division where he held a number of positions including traffic safety officer, motorcycle officer, Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force investigator, defensive tactics and defensive striking instruments instructor, Sergeant, Chief Jailer, Chief Deputy and eventually as the Marshall County Sheriff until joining the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in February of 2021.
Chief Ken Pilch
Chief Ken Pilch has been serving the citizens of Polk County since 1992 when he started as a deputy at the jail. Since then, he has worked as a deputy on patrol as well as serving as a team member on the Metro Star entry team. After promotion to sergeant, he worked as a supervisor at the jail, the training division and the patrol division. During this time, Chief Pilch also served as the assistant commander for Metro Star and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Response unit. As a lieutenant, Chief Pilch supervised the patrol evening shift until promotion to Captain where he worked at the jail and then spent three years as the Commander of the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement drug task force. Currently Chief Pilch is assigned to the Court Services Division which includes Courthouse Security, Court Staging and the Civil Division.
Chief Pilch grew up in a suburb of Chicago. He graduated Iowa State University in 1991 and has remained in Polk County since earning his degree. He is an Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Defensive Tactics Instructor and Firearms Instructor. Chief Pilch also holds a 6th degree black belt in the Korean martial art of Hapkido.
Chief Cory Williams
Chief Cory Williams is the Chief Jail Administrator for the Polk County Jail. Chief Williams began serving Polk County in 2000 and has served his entire career in the Jail Division. Chief Williams has extensive knowledge and experience in Jail operations. He started as a Detention Officer and worked nearly all areas of the Jail operations. He served on the Jail Transition Team and assisted in the implementation of the current Polk County Jail specializing in emergency operations, key design, security electronic systems, and tactical response team to name a few. He is a member of several organizations and committees: Polk County CJCC, AJA, ISSDA, and the ISSDA Jails Committee to name a few.
Director Frank Marasco
Chief Frank Marasco serves as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office overseeing the Administrative Services Division, and began his career with Polk County in the Human Resources Department. Chief Marasco holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Iowa, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Drake University as well as a Certified Public Manager (CPM) designation from Drake University and the State of Iowa. Administrative services is responsible for all fiscal management including accounting and budgeting, planning and development, technology services, personnel and organizational development, and contract management.
Major Mark Mohr
Major Mark Mohr graduated from Morningside University in Sioux City in 1996 with Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Business. Major Mohr has also graduated from the FBI National Academy in June 2022. Most recently, Major Mohr completed his Masters of Public Safety from the University of Virginia.
Major Mohr began his career with the Sheriff's Office in February 1998. He initially worked in the Jail and Court Services divisions. Major Mohr has also worked several years in the patrol division as an FTO, K9 Deputy, member of the Metro Special Tactics and Response team as an Assistant Team Leader and on the Weapons of Mass Destruction Team. After being promoted to Sergeant, Mark was assigned to the patrol division and then eventually to the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. Upon promotion to Lieutenant, Mohr became a Watch Commander on Patrol and eventually worked with the Office of Professional Standards division. After promotion to Captain, Mark worked as commander of Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force for 2 years.
Major Shawn VanHoozer
Major Shawn VanHoozer an Iowa native and longtime Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputy. Major VanHoozer was born in Ames and raised in Des Moines, graduating from North Des Moines High School, enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1992 and serving a combat deployment with the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (F.A.S.T. Company) to Mogadishu, Somalia.
Major VanHoozer completed his enlistment as a Scout-Sniper in the 2nd Marine Division, and was hired by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in 1997. In 2001, he attended the 1st Regional Police Academy held by the Des Moines Police Department. In addition to an AS Degree in Liberal Arts from DMACC, VanHoozer is also a graduate of Class 436 of the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command and has also completed the Drake University Certified Public Manager course.
Major VanHoozer has spent his law enforcement career serving in the Jail, Courthouse and Patrol Divisions. Major VanHoozer has served as a longtime member of the Metro Star Team as a tactical marksman and scuba diver, was the Division Commander for Court Services and, most recently, serves as the Division Commander for Law Enforcement Services.
Captain Brandon Bracelin
Professional Services and Training
Captain Brandon Bracelin has been serving the citizens of Polk County since 2002. He has extensive knowledge and experience in Law Enforcement Services, Detention, Court Services, and the Office of Professional Standards. Captain Bracelin has served as the Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, Hostage Crisis Negotiator, Field Training Officer, Patrol Rifle Team, Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor. He now leads the Professional Services and Training Division. The Professional Services and Training Division is responsible for the recruitment, retention and training for over 500 Sheriff’s Office employees. Captain Bracelin is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command.
Captain Heath Osberg
Captain Heath Osberg started with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in 2001 and is currently assigned as the Division Commander of the Patrol Division. Captain Osberg is a veteran of the United States Army, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from William Penn University, has completed Northwestern University’s School for Police Staff and Command, and holds the Certified Public Manager designation from Drake University.
Captain Ryan Evans
Captain Ryan Evans has been serving the citizens of Polk County since 1999. Captain Evans has gained extensive knowledge and experience while working in many of the divisions within the Sheriff’s Office. Captain Evans has been assigned to the Jail, Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Administrative Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office. He served as a member of the Metro S.T.A.R Team as a Tactical Entry Operator as well as Firearms Instructor for pistol, shotgun, and rifle. Captain Evans was also assigned to the United States Marshals Service, Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, as a Task Force Officer for six years. Prior to becoming the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Sheriff’s Office, Captain Evans was assigned to the Office of Professional Standards.
Captain Matt Mertens
Captain Matt Mertens has lived in Polk County his entire life. He began serving Polk County in 1995 after graduating from Iowa State University and has served his entire career in the Jail Division. He served on the Jail Transition Team and assisted in developing procedures and practices for the current Polk County Jail.
Captain Frank Reznik
Captain Frank Reznik has been serving the citizens of Polk County since August of 2003. Born and raised in Europe, he later moved to Iowa and attended Buena Vista University. After college, he joined the USMC where he served with the Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron-224 overseeing ordnance operations for the F/A-18 Hornet fighter while stationed in both Europe and the Western Pacific.
A recent graduate of Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, he is currently the Captain of Jail Operations. Captain Reznik is also a certified instructor in CERT (Correctional Emergency Response Team), Defensive Tactics, OC, as well as a graduate of the FBI Instructor Course. Prior to his promotion to jail command, he served in various roles which included: policy writing/development, response team commander, shift sergeant and as a shift watch commander.