Johnson County is working to build a field mediation services program, dispatched through 911, “an approach that helps address nonviolent interpersonal conflicts through dialogue, de-escalation, and dignity-centered practices.”
Megan Woolard, writing in The Gazette about that program:
Sheriff Brad Kunkel during the program application process expressed to the board of supervisors concerns about his office potentially losing authority over call response. Kunkel told The Gazette his office plans to be involved in the working group.
At the that Aug. 13, 2025, work session, Kunkel said he wanted his office to get the “social capital” that comes from the calls that don’t require a badge and a gun. He also refused to support moving forward with the grant, saying
I’m not interested at this point. Based on what I know now and based on I’m hearing, I wouldn’t write a letter of support for it.
…
I just don’t see this as an opportunity for my office needs to pursue and that the county.
When Kunkel pulled his support for a joint jail facility with Iowa City, less than 24 hours after the City Council approved moving forward with the county, he didn’t want to work with Iowa City because he didn’t “think there’s a good relationship to be had with elected officials who were outspoken about their lack of support for law enforcement, or don’t see any value in law enforcement.”
I’m glad to see Kunkel seemingly on board for this project and hope he doesn’t do to it what he seemed to think others would do to his project: sabotage it.