Jackson County supervisor still working through trauma

By Trish Mehaffey, The Gazette

MAQUOKETA — Larry 'Buck' Koos said he has less nightmares now, but he doesn't understand why he can't get past that September day of last year.

'I never thought of myself as a tough guy,' Koos, a Jackson County supervisor, said last Saturday from his home in Maquoketa. 'I'm just a farm boy. I guess it was divine intervention, but a plan came to me in a split second that day.'

He knew Francis 'Gus' Glazer, 71, a former city manager, was on the agenda that day, and Koos knew it might get heated.

But Koos never expected a gun.

Glazer's argument continued to escalate during the board meeting with assessor Deb Lane over an abatement program, so Koos suggested they adjourn.

Glazer then turned to a reporter who was covering the meeting and told him he might want to take good notes, Koos recalled. Another supervisor saw Glazer open his briefcase and pull out the gun before Koos did.

Koos hit the panic button at his desk and started moving toward Glazer and 'our eyes locked.' Glazer pointed the gun a Koos's head, but Koos didn't realize that at the time because he was so focused on Glazer's face.

'I told her (Lane) to leave, and when she went out Glazer turned toward her and I only remember seeing smoke and the flash of the muzzle but I knew she made it out (safe). Then he (Glazer) started going after her, so I went after him and hit him from behind, but he didn't fall,' Koos continued.

'He's a pretty big guy — taller than me — so I hit him again. I just tried to grabbed him and drive him into the wall.'

Koos and Glazer crashed through a glass door, with Koos on top of Glazer holding him down. Koos yelled for others to help. During the struggle, the gun was fired again.

'I didn't know if I was shot,' Koos said. 'I had blood running down my arms.'

Glazer died from that second shot.

At this point in relating his story, Koos's voice became muted as he started to tear.

'I'm sorry. It still gets me …

, everybody was telling me to let go of him, but I just couldn't let loose. All I could think was that he was trying to kill my friends and I couldn't let go.'

After Koos was helped up, they realized Glazer fired the second shot at himself. Koos wrist was severely cut from when the two men went through glass door.

Later that day, board members found out Glazer had left a suicide note and had planned to shoot himself after the meeting.

Koos refused to stay in the hospital after his arm had been treated because he wanted to get back to be with the others at the courthouse. He also went back to his office the next day, just like 'normal.'

Except things would not be normal for a long time.

He had nightmares every night and was sleeping only a few hours a night. Koos said he didn't tell anybody for a long time but eventually sought counseling, he said.

Editor's note: This story ran alongside a story updating courthouse security in Iowa. To see that piece, click here.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com