LAW ENFORCEMENT:
Louie Bock – Retired Fort Dodge Police Department. Worked there from February 5, 1977 until 2006. Supervised Ruby at the beginning of his training. Excellent, reliable police officer with absolutely no complaints. He rescued Bock from a very serious motorcycle accident. Had no reprimands and no discipline and whatever he says Bock would take as true over the word of anyone else that he knows. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 78 KB)
Gary Bockhoven – Webster County Jailer from July, 2000 to July, 2005. He saw Ruby regularly and called on him for problems in the jail. He is a respectful person – never out of control, obnoxious or abusive. Left when Mickelson took over and created an unpleasant working environment. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 53 KB)
Bob Gray – Fort Dodge Police Department Officer from 1969 – 1997. Supervised Curt Ruby. He was an awfully good policeman, completely reliable and always improving himself. Knows nothing negative about him. He was the main law enforcement supporter of the Domestic Violence Center. Never disciplined or reprimanded. Never rude or disrespectful. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 71 KB)
Charles E. Griggs – Retired County Sheriff. Curt Ruby is loyal, honest, hardworking and always ready to help. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 33 KB)
Perry Hewitt – He is a current reserve deputy since 1990. Also a friend. Ruby helped him when a neighbor child was harassing his daughter. He is a friendly person. Never rude or obnoxious. Easy going. Since Mickelson has taken over, he has made promises and failed to keep them. Hewitt helped Mickelson work on his own home and he refused to pay Hewitt for a long time and has still not fully paid Trevir Michehl. Mickelson is unreliable and not a man of his word and so is O’Brien. There is no dive team anymore in the Webster County Sheriff’s Department. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 118 KB)
Kevin Hoop – A sergeant in the Illinois State Police, a major in the United States Army National Guard, an Iraqi war veteran, a bronze star recipient, a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has a four year college degree in the administration of justice. He has known Curt Ruby since 1984 when he took Tae Kwon Do as a high school student. Ruby was a surrogate father and was the principal reason he chose law enforcement. Ruby is a person of the highest character and can be counted on. His devotion to his friend, Bill Koller after Koller got Lou Gehrig’s disease was profound. He is exactly the kind of person that everyone would want as a friend, mentor and law enforcement officer. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 123 KB)
Joe McMahon – Began with the Fort Dodge Police Department in 1966 and retired as a Captain in 1991 and directly supervised Ruby, who caused no problems, followed orders, was never insensitive or rude or out of control. Respectful of me, other officers and citizens. No complaints, no reprimands, no disciplines. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 40 KB)
Trevir Michehl – Works for the Webster City Police Department since September 5, 2007 and has known Ruby since 2003 in connection with martial arts and the Sheriff’s Department where he was a reserve deputy beginning in the summer of 2004. Ruby has a good positive attitude and will do anything to help. He is a good law enforcement officer who cares about the community and about people. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 155 KB)
He tried very hard to get on with the Webster County Sheriff’s Office doing everything that Brian Mickelson suggested. He was on the list 2 out of 3 times, but not selected. He is an experienced construction person and was asked by Sheriff Mickelson to finish building his garage and building his sun room. He promised $15/hour. When it was done Mickelson only paid $12/hour. He led Michehl to believe that if he helped him he would offer him a job as a Webster County Sheriff Deputy. Even after that, because he led me on, he built a back deck for him and paid for the material. Mickelson refused to reimburse him for the material and never paid him anything on the deck nor did he pay him the $3/hour difference on the garage or sun room.
On June 17, 2007 Michehl went to talk to Mickelson about the hiring of deputies. Mickelson told him he needed to watch who he was hanging out with. He asked who and Mickelson said somebody in martial arts. Michehl said do you mean Curt Ruby. Mickelson said “yes”.
Kenny Powell – Has known Ruby since karate class in 1974 and more regularly after he became a reserve deputy 12 years ago. He is a friend. Mickelson asked Powell whether he thought Ruby was dangerous or violent. He said no. He is assertive but always under control, never rude, has a good reputation, quality person and a nice guy. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 46 KB)
Jerry Thoma – Started as a Deputy Sheriff in 1973 and retired in 1998 as Chief Deputy and now teaches in the criminal justice program at Iowa Central. Knew Ruby from the time he was with the Fort Dodge Police Department. Interviewed him for the Sheriff’s Department and recommended his hiring. There were no complaints, no reprimands and no disciplines. He was actively involved in domestic violence, was an excellent law enforcement officer. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 46 KB)
Dana Wilson – Started in law enforcement with the Fort Dodge Police Department 34 years ago, went to the Sheriff’s Office in 1988 and retired as a lieutenant on June 29, 2007 and returned on November 1 as a part time process server. Worked with Ruby at the Fort Dodge Police Department and at the Sheriff’s Office. Had no complaints, no reprimands and no disciplines. Never flies off the handle, never rude or insubordinate. He is the best friend the domestic violence advocates have in Fort Dodge. Impressed by the many things he did for the betterment of the department like the pamphlet he provided giving information and locations of things in the community and a utility stick. As an experienced law officer, Wilson testifies about the Thompson situation, indicating that adrenaline is activated during a struggle and it would be not at all unusual during a fight for a law enforcement officer to swear and to take a while to calm down. It is standard police practice to turn over the subject as quickly as possible. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 126 KB)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES:
Marti Anderson – Director of the Crime Victims Assistance Division of the Iowa Department of Justice since 1989. The Division advocates for the rights and needs of crime victims. Curt Ruby served on the board from 1994 to 1997 and was an exceptional member. Even after he left, he continued to assist with training related to crime victim’s rights. No member of law enforcement in Iowa has made a great contribution to the safety of the survivors of domestic violence. People who serve these victims are concerned about his termination. Read her sworn affidavit here (PDF document 85 KB).
Bonnie Campbell – Elected Attorney General of Iowa in 1990 and served until 1994. She chaired the Consumer Protection Committee of the National Association of Attorney Generals and headed the United States Justice Department’s Violence Against Women Office from 1995 – 2000. She appointed Ruby to the Crime Victim Assistance Board in 1994 as the law enforcement representative where he served as a valuable member. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 155 KB)
Clayton Charles – Served as the Iowa Accountability Project Coordinator under a federal grant to determine if victims of domestic violence were being properly served. Talked to law enforcement people. They all pointed to Ruby as the best person to talk with about domestic violence. Clayton also found him knowledgeable and helpful. Women he interviewed had problems with other law enforcement agencies, but not with the Sheriff’s Department and in every single case, the officer who responded was Curt Ruby. Ruby is also well known in the African American community in Webster County as a fair law enforcement officer, with no bias or prejudice. He is not replaceable in his unique role in this community. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 103 KB)
Joyce DeHaan – Executive Director of the Domestic Sexual Assault Outreach Center in Fort Dodge since 1994 where Ruby served on the Board, trained law enforcement and advocates on domestic violence. He was a strong ally to her and to the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. No victim ever complained about her treatment by Ruby. She was shocked to learn of his discharge and concerned that his enormous expertise will be lost to the community and to the state. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 94 KB)
Teresa Larson – Coordinator of Children & Families of Iowa since 1992 and has known Ruby since he was with the Fort Dodge Police Department. He was deeply involved with the domestic violence movement and law enforcement training and facilitated the batterer’s education group along with her and was a part of the family violence response team. She is aware that victims call Curt directly because they know that he will do everything he can to help them. Never seen him rude or out of control. He is an honest person. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 91 KB)
Linda McGuire – Associate Dean at the University of Iowa College of Law since 1996. Before that, she was an assistant and then first assistant Johnson County Attorney. While Ruby was with the Fort Dodge Police Department, they were part of a multi-disciplinary team that traveled across the state training on domestic abuse. He was a bright light during dark times as many police officers were not convinced of their responsibilities to the victims of domestic violence. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 53 KB)
Laurie Schipper – Executive Director of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence for 24 years. Before that worked in a battered women’s shelter and rape crisis center in Ames for 10 years. She has known Ruby for over 20 years and partnered with him to provide training to law enforcement and domestic violence advocates from 1987 – 1995. Ruby had the most profound professional impact on her work of anyone. References his deep understanding of the issues by noting that he has explained to women who weren’t ready to leave or to have their partner arrested, and even to those who were uncooperative or even hostile, that he understood why they were scared and not ready. He told them he would stand ready for them whenever they called. Even today, she uses Ruby’s words to train other officers. Sometimes his commitment to victims is not popular with others in his department. They have discussed in confidence how to best address his fellow officers who are less empathetic. He was the recipient of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence Gold Seal Award for excellence in serving victims of domestic violence above and beyond the call of duty. Losing Ruby from the law enforcement community is a blow to victim’s rights and safety, to women and their children and to the State Community working against family violence. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 136 KB)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS:
Christina Brooks – Ruby came to her aid to preserve evidence against a harasser even though his shift was nearly over. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 43 KB)
Linda Caldwell - Works for the Department of Human Services as an IT for 31 years. Her daughter, Robyn, was trying to break up with Orlando Love, who was extremely violent and kidnapped her twice. The whole family went to the Domestic Violence Shelter. Only Sgt. Curt Ruby was willing to come and help them when they needed to go back to their home. He made them feel secure, gave them his cell phone number and told them they could call anytime. When she learned he had been discharged she called the Domestic Violence Shelter to see how she could help. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 56 KB)
Robyn Caldwell – An aggression replacement training facilitator at Rabiner’s Boys Ranch who was attacked twice in 2005 by her former boyfriend, Orlando Love. The first time he held her and her sister in their mother’s house at gunpoint with a razor to her throat and drove to Humboldt. The first deputy she spoke to was rude, impatient and left the report sitting on his desk. Weeks later, she was kidnapped again and held for 26 hours in the home of Session Harper. Afterwards the whole family, including her children, moved to the Domestic Violence Shelter. Curt Ruby was the only sheriff’s deputy willing to assist them and accompany them to be sure that they were safe, whenever they need his help. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 79 KB)
Alicia Wardlow – She is the woman involved in a domestic violence incident on August 6, 2007 which forms part of the basis for the discharge of Curt Ruby. Her assailant, Chris Long, is also the father of her two young children. Other deputies have frequently been to the house, sometimes twice a week as a result of his violence toward me. When Sgt. Ruby came he was respectful of my wishes and got me and my children away to safety. I did not want Christopher Long to be arrested. She promised Ruby she would call DSAOC and did so. She is no longer with Christopher Long. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 145 KB)
ATTORNEYS:
William Habhab – He is an attorney who served from 1980 – 1983 as an assistant Webster County Attorney. During that time, Ruby was with the Fort Dodge Police Department. He has had contact with Ruby over the years in the handling of criminal and civil cases. Ruby is easy going, even handed, honest and straight forward with an excellent reputation, not rude or arrogant, but reasonable and calm and an excellent law enforcement officer. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 50 KB)
Kurt Pittner – He is an attorney who was the mental health referee for 20 years and worked with Ruby and found him to be courteous, hard working, well prepared and an advocate for battered women, following up to make sure that batterers were prosecuted and that victims had a voice. He was often an adverse witness, but always congenial and patient, never rude or out of control. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 46 KB)
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS:
Francisco Visedo – Was a reserve deputy for 10 years and resigned in 2007 and a volunteer firefighter and a first responder for 12 years. Curt treated reserve deputies well and trained them. He was captain of the EMS Unit in Badger and the best person to have in charge. Never screamed or yelled. Ruby has learned Spanish in order to be helpful in the community and practiced with Visedo regularly. He is the only deputy who ever did that. He never swears or is out of control. He is an honorable person. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 85 KB)
Michael Vandi – With the Lehigh Fire Department for 23 years and Chief for 19 years. Known Ruby for 10 – 15 years through fire rescue and EMT classes. He knows him to be professional, conscientious, never rude or obnoxious or threatening, laid back, even handed, respectful and dignified. He has never heard him scream or holler though others in law enforcement do that and are not fired. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 63 KB)
COUNTY ATTORNEY:
Jennifer Bonzer – Assistant County Attorney who prosecutes D felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile matters and has been with the County Attorney’s Office 2 years and 5 months. Knows Ruby when he has been the arresting officer and has testified in a number of cases. He was always well prepared and timely. She has prosecuted three matters involving domestic violence in which he was involved including Victor Carlson, who was found guilty. Another was State v. Christopher Kennedy, which was a potential no-contact order violation, which she and Ruby discussed at some length and decided there was not a violation. He was a good, solid, cooperative, effective law enforcement officer who was completely professional. Read her sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 325 KB)
MEDICAL EXAMINER:
Daniel Cole – Director of the Emergency Department at Trinity Regional since 1998 and the Webster County Medical Examiner for 35 years. He has known Ruby for about 20 years and knows most law enforcement officers. Dumbfounded when he learned that Ruby had been discharged because he is the ideal law enforcement officer who shows respect and consideration for everyone. He is always calm. He is the last person Cole expected would be discharged. Ruby has worked with emergency medical services and been pro-active in getting the Sheriff’s Department up to speed. He was working on establishing a county wide SWAT team. He was enthusiastic about his work. He cannot imagine why Ruby has been deprived of his job after 28 years, and why the people of Webster County would be deprived of his services. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 185 KB)
TAE KWON DO:
Tom Hemann – Has known Ruby in connection with Tae Kwon Do since Ruby worked with the Fort Dodge Police Department in the early 1980’s. Ruby has a third degree black belt and his instructor stripes, has taught women’s self-defense on his own time, worked with scuba diving and helped with underwater rescue also on his own time. Ruby was an excellent instructor and representative of the Art of Tae Kwon Do and teaches the importance of courtesy and respect for others. He has never been aware of any rudeness or disrespect in Ruby. Ruby was ethical, up front, with good judgment. He has an excellent reputation in the community. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 85 KB)
DIVER SEARCH AND RESCUE:
Tom Henderson – Served with Central Iowa Dive Team from 1989 to 2000 and as its head from 1998 – 2002. Met Ruby as his instructor when he took SCUBA diving to serve his community. Ruby served with him on the Search & Rescue Team in Central Iowa on several dives. Also served as Incident Command, for which he was certified, and as liaison to local law enforcement during missions. Henderson gives several examples of Ruby’s service in crisis situations. Never loud, rude, obtrusive or obnoxious. Even-tempered and the “go to” guy who could always be counted on. A credit to law enforcement and his community. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 120 KB)
PASTOR:
DARRYL LANDSVERK – Pastor Badger Lutheran Church since 2000. Ruby cares deeply for young people, gentle, kind, generous, courageous, keeps confidences. Ruby helped him with woman in church caught in domestic violence. Cannot imagine a better law enforcement person. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 77 KB)
FRIEND:
Sue Koller – First met Ruby when she married Bill Koller in 1978. Bill and Curt worked out together. Bill was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 1999 and died 4 ½ years later at the age of 53. During all the time he was sick, Ruby was attentive, and did everything to make his life as full as possible, including taking him to movies, visiting him on Tuesdays and even taking him fishing and to Kevin Hoop’s swearing in as a trooper. After Bill died Curt, and Rhonda have continued to be supportive of her. He is like a brother to Sue. He grew up hard and overcame his background. He is dedicated to law enforcement and respectful to every one. He does what is right and fair and has a spotless reputation. The people of Webster County are being deprived of this good and decent law enforcement person. Read his sworn affidavit here. (PDF file - 156 KB)
