Now retired Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera (front row, third from left) pictured alongside current and former Tama County deputies/reserve deputies and office staff during an open house held in his honor last Saturday afternoon at the Traer Memorial Building. Those pictured include (front row, from left) Brian Randall (deputy/jail administrator), Joe Quandt (chief deputy), Sheriff Kucera, Casey Schmidt (deputy and now sheriff), Bruce Rhoads (deputy), Nate Miller (Iowa State Trooper), Josh Gettle (deputy); (back row, from left) Dave Ruopp (retired chief deputy), Jody Droigk (reserve deputy), Chad Hansen (retired chief deputy), Dallas Dvorak (deputy), and Kira Doyle (administrative assistant). PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera, now retired, was honored last Saturday, Dec. 28, during a public open house held at the Memorial Building in Traer.

For several hours that afternoon, family, friends, sheriff’s office staff including current and former deputies and reserve deputies, and even several local politicians waited patiently in a receiving line to shake the outgoing sheriff’s hand and wish him a fond farewell.

Among the hundreds in attendance to celebrate Kucera’s more than four decade career in law enforcement – 24 of those years as sheriff – was Deputy Casey Schmidt who assumed the office of sheriff from his predecessor this past Wednesday.

“I’m ready,” Schmidt succinctly told the newspaper when asked how he was feeling. “I’ve been excited for a long time but now I’m ready.”

As Sheriff Kucera posed again and again (and again) for photographs, one of the lighter but more poignant moments came during a photograph with his “older” twin brother (by 15 minutes), Father David Kucera who recently retired from the Catholic priesthood. Fr. Kucera most recently served Holy Family Parish which includes St. Patrick (Parkersburg) and St. Gabriel (Reinbeck) churches.

Now retired Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera, left, pictured with his twin brother, Father David Kucera last Saturday afternoon in Traer. Fr. Kucera retired from the Catholic priesthood in 2023 (most recently serving Holy Family Parish which includes Reinbeck’s St. Gabriel church). PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

As the two brothers posed near the large Tama County Sheriff’s replica badge members of his staff had made for him, Sheriff Kucera joked, “I’ve always said, I arrest and he forgives.” A comment that instantly drew wide smiles and laughter from the brothers.

While his days of making arrests may be over, Sheriff Kucera’s lengthy career in Tama County will not soon be forgotten if the robust response to his open house was any indication.

Congratulations on your well-earned retirement, Sheriff Kucera!

Passing of the badge. Retiring Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera, left, gets a hug from Deputy Casey Schmidt (now Sheriff Schmidt) during his retirement open house last Saturday afternoon in Traer. Schmidt was sworn into office as the new Tama County Sheriff this past Monday, Dec. 30, following the supervisors meeting in Toledo. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Now retired Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera (front row, third from left) pictured alongside current and former Tama County deputies/reserve deputies and office staff during the open house held in his honor last Saturday afternoon at the Traer Memorial Building. Those pictured include (front row, from left) Josh Gettle (deputy), Bob Vokoun (retired officer), Sheriff Kucera, Casey Schmidt (deputy and now sheriff), Joe Quandt (chief deputy), Doug Hlas (reserve deputy); (back row, from left) Ryan Ridout (Iowa DOT investigations chief), Jacob Murphy (deputy), Brandon Boldt (deputy), Kira Doyle (administrative assistant), Dallas Dvorak (deputy), and Brandon Wall (deputy). PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Outgoing Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera, second from left, and his wife Gayle Kucera pictured last Saturday alongside Tama County Sheriff-elect Casey Schmidt and his wife Cady Schmidt. Schmidt was sworn into office as the new sheriff this past Monday, Dec. 30, following the supervisors meeting in Toledo. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera, right, greets David and Irene Podhajsky in the receiving line during his retirement open house on Saturday, Dec. 28. David Podhajsky and Sheriff Kucera grew up near each other on adjacent farms and are distantly related cousins through Podhajsky’s paternal line and Sheriff Kucera’s maternal line. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER