Iowa State Patrol
Encyclopedia
The Iowa State Patrol is the state police
organization in the state of Iowa
. Currently, there are just over 378 officers in the patrol. State Troopers are responsible for patrolling over 112000 miles (180,246.1 km) of roadways in the state. The State is broken into 16 Districts. Their primary concern is enforcing motor vehicle laws, but they also assist with other incidents. These include riots, prison disturbances, labor related disturbances, and providing security at sporting events. The Iowa State Patrol falls under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, which also runs the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, also known as DCI, the DPS is also the governing body for the 99 County Sheriff's Departments within the state.
In 1936, Oran H. Pape became the first man to die in the line of duty, and remains to date the only member of the Patrol to be murdered in the line of duty. Trooper Pape's murder started the custom of wearing your sidearm on the side opposite of your strong arm. This procedure, called "Cross drawing," would continue with the Patrol until the early 2000s.
In the early days of the Patrol, cars were painted black, with the State Patrol logo on the front doors, then, in the 1970s, the cars were repainted white, with the logo on the front doors, by the early 1980s, Patrol vehicles had a light tan color with the Iowa State Patrol logo on the sides of the vehicle. In the late 1990s, the Patrol switched to a black and gold color scheme on their vehicles. The change was not particularly well received, however, with some critics feeling that the new color scheme had turned Patrol cars into moving advertisements for the University of Iowa
's Hawkeye sports teams. The Patrol later switched back to the prior color scheme; however, the 2007 and newer patrol vehicles have been predominately colored silver or white. The Patrol has mainly used the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
for a number of years. Recently the Patrol has begun using the Dodge Charger (LX)
Police Pursuit Version as well. For a short time, the Patrol also had motorcycle officers until the early 1980s due to the neglect, and later, uninterest of a motorcycle division within the Patrol. The Patrol also uses several small airplanes for use as air traffic patrol, and to locate suspects fleeing on foot, into the wooded areas, and farm fields of rural Iowa.
and interstate flight to avoid prosecution), aside of this, the Department of Criminal Investigation's other duties include postings at casinos, and race tracks, as well as criminal forensics teams (Iowa's equalivent of other city and county Crime Scene Investigators).
State police
State police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
organization in the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Currently, there are just over 378 officers in the patrol. State Troopers are responsible for patrolling over 112000 miles (180,246.1 km) of roadways in the state. The State is broken into 16 Districts. Their primary concern is enforcing motor vehicle laws, but they also assist with other incidents. These include riots, prison disturbances, labor related disturbances, and providing security at sporting events. The Iowa State Patrol falls under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, which also runs the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, also known as DCI, the DPS is also the governing body for the 99 County Sheriff's Departments within the state.
History
The State Patrol was created in 1935 (as the Iowa Highway Safety Patrol), after an act creating the Patrol was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor. Initially the patrol was composed of 53 men. Later that same year, the word Safety was dropped from the name, and the unit became known simply as the Iowa Highway Patrol, by the early 1970s, the name had changed again, to reflect the change that Iowans felt was needed, the Iowa Highway Patrol became known as the Iowa State Patrol. The change was quickly reflected by the difference in the uniform shoulder patches, and by the wording of the logos on the car doors.In 1936, Oran H. Pape became the first man to die in the line of duty, and remains to date the only member of the Patrol to be murdered in the line of duty. Trooper Pape's murder started the custom of wearing your sidearm on the side opposite of your strong arm. This procedure, called "Cross drawing," would continue with the Patrol until the early 2000s.
In the early days of the Patrol, cars were painted black, with the State Patrol logo on the front doors, then, in the 1970s, the cars were repainted white, with the logo on the front doors, by the early 1980s, Patrol vehicles had a light tan color with the Iowa State Patrol logo on the sides of the vehicle. In the late 1990s, the Patrol switched to a black and gold color scheme on their vehicles. The change was not particularly well received, however, with some critics feeling that the new color scheme had turned Patrol cars into moving advertisements for the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
's Hawkeye sports teams. The Patrol later switched back to the prior color scheme; however, the 2007 and newer patrol vehicles have been predominately colored silver or white. The Patrol has mainly used the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
Though the name has been officially in use since 1992, the 1978–1991 full-size LTDs and LTD Crown Victorias and 1992 updated body style used the "P72" production code designation for both fleet/taxi and police models, with the model itself being internally classified as S...
for a number of years. Recently the Patrol has begun using the Dodge Charger (LX)
Dodge Charger (LX)
The Dodge Charger LX is a rear-wheel drive four-door automobile introduced in February 2005. Built by Chrysler for its North American Dodge brand, the car was created to continue the Dodge Charger line, and replaced the Dodge Intrepid as Dodge's full-size sedan...
Police Pursuit Version as well. For a short time, the Patrol also had motorcycle officers until the early 1980s due to the neglect, and later, uninterest of a motorcycle division within the Patrol. The Patrol also uses several small airplanes for use as air traffic patrol, and to locate suspects fleeing on foot, into the wooded areas, and farm fields of rural Iowa.
Uniform
The uniform of the Iowa State Patrol consists of a chocolate brown shirt, with tan epaulets, tan trousers with a black stripe, and black shoes. The campaign hat that is worn by all Troopers is modeled after the hats worn by Army Drill Sergeants and Marine Corps Drill Instructors, and are chocolate brown. The winter version of the uniform includes a Black 5.11 winter coat; the standard short sleeve shirt is replaced with a long sleeve wool serge shirt, and a tan wool necktie. The uniform of the Special Tactical Division are simple BDU style uniforms, in Olive Drab Green (again, the winter uniform is changed to add a parka), with the patches in Olive Drab, and black. The badge of the State Patrol has changed many times over the years, but the current badge is a simple shield surmounted by an eagle design, with red enamled ribbons. The badges are gold plated for all ranks, in the center of the badge, the state seal is prominent, and for all ranks below Sergeant, the upper badge ribbon simply reads "Trooper," or "Officer," if they are assigned to the Capitol Police Division. Rank devices for Sergeants are sewn onto the sleeves, and all ranks Sergeant and above wear pinned collar insignia. In incliment weather, the Troopers are usually equipped with full rain gear, including rubber pants, and knee length rain slickers, and, on cool nights, when the 5.11 winter coat would be too much, an optional light weight 5.11 Spring Jacket is available.Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Iowa State Patrol, 10 officers have died in the line of duty. Of these, only one, Oran Pape, has been murdered.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Trooper Oran H. Pape | |
Gunfire (murder Murder Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide... ) |
| Trooper Harold Emmerson Klinkefus | |
Automobile accident |
| Trooper Harold Clarence DeGear | |
Struck by vehicle |
| Trooper Ralph Franklin Garthwaite | |
Vehicular assault |
| Trooper Marvin C. VanderLinden | |
Automobile accident |
| Trooper Charles Gerald Whitney | |
Struck by vehicle |
| Trooper Stanley E. Gerling | |
Aircraft accident |
| Trooper Pilot Lance G. Dietsch | |
Aircraft accident |
| Trooper Allen Patrick Nieland | |
Aircraft accident |
| Trooper Mark Toney | |
Automobile accident |
Department of Criminal Investigation
Contrary to some popular belief, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation is not, nor has it ever been, an arm of the State Patrol. It is, however, within the jurisdiction of the same entity that is in charge of the Patrol, the Iowa Department of Public Safety. And the two entities work together on several cases that might fall under the jurisdiction of both departments. An example of which would be cases of certain illegal activities, such as manufacture of illicit drugs, distribution of illicit drugs, and violations of interstate laws (i.e. bootleggingSmuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
and interstate flight to avoid prosecution), aside of this, the Department of Criminal Investigation's other duties include postings at casinos, and race tracks, as well as criminal forensics teams (Iowa's equalivent of other city and county Crime Scene Investigators).
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Iowa
- State policeState policeState police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
- State patrol
- Highway patrolHighway patrolA highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...