DES MOINES — Commissioner Roxann Ryan announced Monday that she will be leaving the Department of Public Safety on January 2, 2019, closing out a career of 36 years of service in State government. She served as Commissioner for the past four years, after joining the Department of Public Safety in 2006. The Commissioner previously served in the Iowa Attorney General's Office from 1980 to 2004. She also worked as an Assistant Professor at Simpson College from 2004 to 2006. She is a graduate of Iowa State University (B.A., 1973), the University of Iowa (J.D., 1980), and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (Ph.D., 1998).
“I am thankful to have had the opportunity to serve with the fine people in the Department of Public Safety,” she said. “I have long had tremendous respect for the work that they accomplish and for their dedication to public safety in countless ways. There is no doubt that I will miss working with these public servants day to day, but we can all be assured that they will continue to put public safety first for everyone in Iowa.”
Colonel Jeff Ritzman, the Chief of the Iowa State Patrol, also announced his retirement on January 2, 2019, after 36 years of service in the Iowa State Patrol. He served as the 16th Colonel of the Iowa State Patrol. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa (B.A., 1993) and Drake University (M.P.A. 2008). The Colonel began his career with the Iowa State Patrol in 1982 and served as a Trooper in District 12 (Stockton), a Sergeant in District 13 (Mount Pleasant), and a District Commander in District 1 (Des Moines). He also served as Basic Academy Camp Commander (35th Basic Academy, 2010); in the Professional Standards Bureau; in the Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center; and as Executive Officer.
“It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve the men and women of the Iowa State Patrol as their Colonel. In my eyes, there is no finer group of Troopers or people.