Ballandby steps into role of mental health liaison

MARENGO — Iowa City native David Ballandby is a devout Iowa Hawkeyes fan, but he was sporting a University of Oklahoma polo shirt during a shift at the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office last month.

Ballandby insists that his love of OU is secondary to his love for University of Iowa sports. While in elementary school, he visited his grandmother in Mason City and watched the Red River Rivalry, Texas vs. Oklahoma, on television. He decided he needed a secondary team to support behind his Hawkeyes, and he randomly chose Oklahoma.

Ballandby has been the mental health liaison for Iowa County’s law enforcement agencies since April after spending much of his time working in probation, parole, pretrial and presentencing in neighboring Johnson County.

Though Iowa City law enforcement has a mental health liaison, Ballandby didn’t realize Iowa County had such a position until a supervisor suggested he apply.

A 1990 graduate of City High in Iowa City, Ballandby earned an associate of arts degree in community based corrections from Kirkwood Community College and in 1995 received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Iowa.

“I worked for the department of correctional services sixth district [from 1995 to 2015],” Ballandby said. The 6th District Court covers Linn, Johnson, Benton, Jones, Tama and Iowa Counties. Still, Ballandby wasn’t very familiar with Iowa County when he took the liaison position.

“I’ve had some business dealings out here in the past,” Ballandby said, and Iowa County probation officer Dale Slaymaker has been a friend since college, but getting to know the resources available for Iowa County residents took some time.

From 2015-2024, Ballandby worked in a residential unit for a 28-day inpatient treatment program for Prelude Behavior Services, which merged with Community Family Resources. He took a position with CommUnity Crisis Services in late 2024 as a mobile crisis counselor.

“I’ve just been next door the entire time.”

Ballandby said his new position is good fit for him, given his employment background. “I spent a lot of time working with law enforcement.”

Mental health is a major problem, said Ballandby. “It’s so severe.” He’s glad for the opportunity to make a difference and to have a positive impact on the community, he said.

The cooperation he’s had from Iowa County’s law enforcement agencies has been fantastic, Ballandby said. Everyone has been accommodating, and the staffs of the sheriff’s office, the Marengo and Williamsburg Police Departments have helped him learn where resources are available for the people he’s trying to help.

“That’s been something of a learning curve,” Ballandby said.

Ballandby’s job consists mostly of follow-up visits with people who have encountered law enforcement, he said, but he can be called to a scene if officers need him. “I’m always available to do that.”

Officers and deputies are good at knowing when people need mental health services rather than criminal charges. “They’re all really good when it comes to dealing with those issues,” said Ballandby.

It’s the goal of CommUnity Crisis Services that this be a long-term position said Ballandby. There was a liaison position open with the Iowa City police, said Ballandby, but he didn’t apply for it. “I’m very happy to be out here,” he said. He likes the more rural setting.

“My first probation case load was in Belle Plaine,” Ballandby said. This position reminds him of that.

The commute from Iowa City has provided time for Ballandby to process things and to decompress before he gets home, he said.

“I think law enforcement is very good at destigmatizing mental health issues,” Ballandby said. Officers recognize mental health situations and realize they need a different response.

“[These] are people who are at their lowest point,” Ballandby said. No one is immune. “It can touch anyone at any time.”

People are often more willing to deal with Ballandby because he’s not an officer, he said. “I’m not there to do police things,” said Ballandby. “It makes people more comfortable.”

When he’s not working, Ballandby spends time with his girlfriend and her non-verbal, autistic child. He likes to fish and sometimes plays golf.

Ballandby is an Iowa football fan and he’s followed wrestling for years, but he started watching Iowa basketball thanks to Caitlyn Clark. “I really grew to enjoy watching the games that group of women was involved in.”

How the liaison position will be paid for is still in question, according to Marengo Police Chief Ben Gray and Iowa County Sheriff Rob Rotter.

Rotter told County Supervisors in July that the mental health region paid for the position the first year, 2023, and, having money available, agreed to pay for the position in year two as well.

Initial plans called for the county to pay 25% the following year, 50% the year after that and 75% of the cost after that, Rotter said.

Then the mental health regions were dissolved and larger districts were formed. The new organization has not decided if it will fund law enforcement liaisons or how much it will fund, said Iowa County Supervisor Jon Degen. He is pushing the region’s board. to provide funds for the position.

Having the liaison is a total game changer, Rotter said., Not just on the committal side, but on the jail side, Rotter said.

“It’s the best money I’ve ever seen spent in metal health,” Rotter said.