| BOARD SPOTLIGHT: SUPPORT FOR IOWA LAW ENFORCEMENT
By Ryan Goecke, ISPA Immediate Past President  As a board member and past president of the nearly 3,200-member Iowa State Police Association (ISPA), I have had many opportunities to talk with officers from around the state of Iowa, as well as the United States. I’ve also attended the National Peace Officer Ceremony in Washington D.C., as well as the Iowa ceremony. We have spent many hours talking about issues ranging from what affects our officers in their local communities to the monumental change in the level of trust of law enforcement in America.
Ferguson, Mo. in August 2014. This incident was widely inaccurately reported despite statistics, sparking riots and a national movement that is often anti-police. Subsequent incidents with police elsewhere seemed to follow the same pattern, resulting in violent protests — often before the facts of the case were known. Reactions by members of the public, local and state authorities have created changes in law enforcement, and not necessarily for the better. This can make it more difficult to attract dedicated people to the profession — people who are needed now more than ever. In March of this year, two Des Moines police officers were killed in the line of duty. While attending the services for these officers, I could see the outpouring of support — not only from the community... |
