Captain Kent Steenblock currently serves as the Assistant Jail Administrator for the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. Kent is a Certified Jail Manager (CJM) with the American Jail Association and a Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) instructor. With the Linn County Sheriff’s Office since 1993, Kent started as a Deputy in the Correctional Center until his transfer to the Patrol Division in 1998. Kent worked in the Patrol Division where he was assigned to the Canine Division with his canine partner Buddy until 2003. Promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2003, Kent initially worked in the Correctional Center as a front line supervisor for three years. In 2006, Kent transferred to the Criminal Division as a Detective where he worked for six years. In addition to his other duties as a Detective, Kent was certified to conduct computer forensic investigations as a member of the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2011, Kent returned to the Correctional Center as a Jail Division Commander and Assistant Jail Administrator. In February 2016, Kent graduated from Northwestern University Center for Public Safety – School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC #388); Kent was the class recipient of the Franklyn M. Kreml Leadership Award. In 2019, Kent completed the National Command & Staff College receiving his Criminal Justice Commission for Credible Leadership (CLO) and is a National 4-Star Credible Leader (CCL). In October 2021, Kent was transferred from the Jail Division to the Patrol Division and served as the Assistant Patrol Commander, in May 2022 Kent was promoted to the rank of Captain and in September 2022 he transferred back to the Jail Division.
Kent has an Associate of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement from North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC). Kent is a United States Marine Corps Veteran. He served from 1985-1992 and was a Military Police Canine handler and DOD Certified Kennel Master. Kent is a former member and Team Leader of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team. Kent is Iowa Law Enforcement Intelligence Network (LEIN) certified, a member of the Mid-State Organized Crime Information Center (MOCIC), and graduate of the Southern Police Institute Homicide Investigation School.