Two new sergeants in Union County

Different backgrounds and journeys lead to the same destination for two Southwest Iowa natives as they ascend to the role of Union County sergeant.

Union County Sheriff Brian Bolton introduced the sergeants March 26 at the Union County Board of Supervisors meeting saying they had both been through interviews and were approved by the civil service board.

“Sergeant Ryan Maitlan and Sergeant Dillon Hightshoe — these guys have been deputies for a long time,” Bolton said. “They’ve been valued members of our sheriff’s office. I told them earlier today, I think I could not even show up and, you know, the place will run fine between Dan [McNeill] and these guys.”

With Bolton and Chief Deputy McNeill working day shifts to handle administrative duties, the department was looking for leadership on the other shifts.

“This will really help create that structure that we really want on each night,” Bolton explained. “So, both of these guys will be in charge of a night shift — that guidance for the new guys and that structure. There’s just a lot of value that comes with that.”

Both Maitlen and Hightshoe started their law enforcement careers with the Creston Police Department. Maitlen began with the PD in 2012, transitioning to the sheriff’s office in 2018. Hightshoe’s first job was in the Clarke County Jail before he began as an officer with Creston in 2018. He transitioned to the sheriff’s office in 2020.

Maitlen

A 2010 Creston High School graduate, Maitlen said he was inspired by his dad Steve who served as Union County Chief Deputy for many years.

“I ended up going into it in college for a criminal justice degree,” Maitlen explained. “I just enjoyed the way he helped the community out and made it a better place for us to grow up in.”

This sentiment has carried over to his career with the sheriff’s office. Maitlen describes his passion as keeping the community safe.

“My kids, I want them to grow up in a safe spot,” he said. “I just want the county to feel safe and people be able to raise their kids here without feeling worried or threatened that something else is going to happen.”

Having leadership on the night shift is a big deal for the county. The difference in calls for service is evident between day and night. “We deal with people at their worst,” Maitlen said. “During the night shift, situations are more violent and worse than what they tend to be during the day.”

In 2023, Maitlen responded to a call for a burglary in rural Afton where two men broke into a house, cut into a gun safe and stole numerous firearms, ammunition and a vehicle. The incident resulted in the charging of 20 felonies.

“That was my first time going federal with something,” Maitlen said. “That was a whole different experience.”

The main perpetrator was ordered to pay just shy of $40,000 to the victims. He is currently serving time at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility and has a tentative discharge date in 2041.

Maitlen is also a member of the Multi-Jurisdictional Entry team, serving as one of the drone operators. He’s also certified in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement testing. In the future, he has interest in becoming a firearms instructor. In the meantime, he wants to continue expanding the county’s drone program.

Hightshoe

A 2017 Murray High School graduate, Hightshoe said he always remembers wanting to be a police officer.

“As a kid, I’d see the local deputy in town talking to the kids, talking to me,” he said. “When we played cops and robbers, I always wanted to be the cop.”

Hightshoe said he grew up “rough,” with law enforcement in his life in multiple ways. “I knew I wanted to be different,” he said. “I gave myself six months to get a job in law enforcement or I was going to enlist in the military.”

Out of high school he began working as a correctional officer for Clarke County, but he wanted to serve in a different capacity. He applied all across the state, finding a position only 25 miles from home at the Creston Police Department.

He halted his college criminal justice courses to go to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Though his PD schedule was too sporadic to support finishing his degree, he was able to take his last three courses with DMACC when he began with Union County. In May 2021, he earned his associate degree in criminal justice.

During his law enforcement career, Hightshoe has developed a passion for traffic enforcement. “Pulling drunk drivers off the roads and drugs off the streets, that’s what keeps the community safe,” he said. “I grew up around the drugs and alcohol so I got a front-row seat to what that can do to a family.”

In 2021, Hightshoe witnessed the devastating impacts of drunk driving. It was a rainy spring night when he was waiting on U.S. 169 to turn onto Highway 34.

“It was downpouring,” he recalled. “I saw two cars coming from the east, a Durango and a van. I let them go in front of me. I remember seeing the Durango veer off the road so I started slowing down. I thought maybe they had hydroplaned. The next thing I know, everything went black. An Impala was driving in the wrong lane and hit the van ahead of me head on.”

Hightshoe said this example shows how law enforcement has to be able to prioritize and work efficiently under pressure. “I got out and started checking to make sure everyone was OK,” he said. “I was all by myself, I had two cars in the middle of the road, a semi coming from the east and I could hear screaming coming from the vehicles.”

He was able to stop the semi, get help on the way and address the lives at stake. “It showed you’ve got to be able to think on your feet,” he said. “It happens so fast.” For the next two hours, as medics took care of the injured, Hightshoe worked in the rain to investigate the OWI case.

“Battling that stuff out on the street is the way I can give back and change the trajectory of someone’s life,” he said. “If I can save one family from a meth addiction or being hit by a drunk driver.”

In taking the role of sergeant, Hightshoe hopes to be a good example for those newer than him. “I understand it’s a supervisor role, but it’s also a leadership role,” he said. “As a sergeant, you should lead from the front and not the back. You should be showing them what you expect, not just telling them.”

Hightshoe is also ARIDE certified and is headed to a field training officer class next week. He’s interested in becoming a taser instructor, completing a precision driving course and would love to someday be in the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Honor Guard. Hightshoe is also an original member of MJET, serving as a breacher.

Both Hightshoe and Maitlen stressed the importance of carrying out Bolton’s vision of greater community engagement. They both called out the annual Shop with a Cop event as a yearly highlight.

“At the end of the day, that’s who we serve is the community,” Hightshoe said. “When you are out at a sporting event or the county fair, you’re a bigger presence. I saw that as a kid. You don’t realize the impact you have just by your mere presence; just be out there and be seen.”