Summary of Policing in Iowa

00:00:00 - 00:25:00

In this video, Sheriff Thompson and Judy Bradshaw of the Polk County Sheriff's Office discuss the role of policing in Iowa. They discuss the importance of setting the right character and honesty, and teaching officers how to make good decisions on the street.

• 00:00:00 In the past year, Iowa legislators have responded to concerns about police practices by passing legislation designed to improve training and vetting of police officers. Judy Bradshaw, former Des Moines police chief, and Tony Thompson, sheriff of Black Hawk County, discuss the effects of these changes on law enforcement in Iowa.
• 00:05:00 The Iowa Legislature passed a social justice bill in 2019 that banned the use of chokeholds and banned the hiring of officers who have been disciplined in other departments. Sheriff Thompson says the bill didn't change their methodology one way or the other.
• 00:10:00 The "Back the Blue" bill passed in the Iowa legislature this year increases the penalties for protesting. Although the bill initially had a good mix of social justice language and "back the blue" language, much of that social justice language was stripped by the end of the legislative process. Henderson: Sheriff, do you think that if there is a protest in Waterloo or somewhere in Black Hawk County you're going to be arresting more protestors? Thompson: I do recognize that the bill gives a lot of resources to officers to enable them to use that law to their advantage. However, there is a lot of discretion that is used in law enforcement
• 00:15:00 The video discusses the pros and cons of a proposal to require law enforcement departments in Iowa to collect data on traffic stops in order to be analyzed for racial profiling. Director Bradshaw says that the proposal was part of the Governor's Focus Committee, and was vetted by the DOT. Sheriff Thompson says that mental health is an important issue for law enforcement, and that the state's transition to funding mental health will allow for other resources to be available to counties.
• 00:20:00 In this video, Sheriff Thompson discusses the recent changes to Iowa's firearms laws, which he believes may lead to officers being put in danger. He also shares his concerns about the law's impact on crime rates overall.
• 00:25:00 In this video, Sheriff Thompson and Judy Bradshaw of the Polk County Sheriff's Office discuss the role of policing in Iowa. They discuss the importance of setting the right character and honesty, and teaching officers how to make good decisions on the street. Next week, Iowa Press will continue its coverage of Iowa politics with another episode.