Lonny Pulkrabek

His son is the ticket to this sheriff's good time

If there’s one area law enforcer who proves that police can have a sense of humor, it’s Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek. Despite his long career, he said the one thing that always makes him laugh hits a little closer to home.

“My son and his antics make me laugh,” he said.

Pulkrabek said his 14-year-old son, Sam, does so many things that make him laugh that it’s hard to choose just one. However, memories of fishing with Sam — especially when the sheriff is coming up short and his son is giving him a hard time — rank among the funniest.

“He doesn’t really tell me jokes,” Pulkrabek said. “It’s just the things that he says and being the youngster that he is, his actions, things he tries to do....”

When his son isn’t around, Pulkrabek said he chuckles at sarcasm and certain political cartoonists. Pulkrabek said he just “loves to laugh.”

“I just think you can’t take life too seriously,” he said. “You have to be able to laugh. Laugh at yourself, laugh at others and laugh with others.”

That might sound strange coming from someone who has spent his career in law enforcement, but Pulkrabek said police in general have good senses of humor.

“They often use it to alleviate stress,” he said. “If you don’t find a way to deal with some of the stress, this type of job … can eat you up.”

So, is Johnson County’s Sheriff funny?

“Nah,” Pulkrabek said. “I suppose I do make some people laugh. I’m sure other people think I’m a stiff shirt, but we like to laugh around the sheriff’s office.”

— Lee Hermiston

Iowa City Press-Citizen -- March 12, 2009