MAY 2026

FRANK HICKS (1937-2026)
CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE LOCAL # 5

KENNETH BURRINGTON (1941-2025)
WATERLOO POLICE LOCAL # 12

MICHAEL BEENER (1944-2025)
WATERLOO POLICE LOCAL # 12

 

2026 IOWA LEGISLATIVE END OF SESSION REPORT
By Fitzgerald, Smith & Associates, Lobbyists
  
ISPA had a year of highs and lows for the 2026 session. Priority legislation was sent to the Governor after session awaiting her signature, SF 2088. This legislation had multiple changes for the Department of Transportation but as it pertains to ISPA’s priorities, it raises the property damage threshold for mandatory accident reporting from $1,500 to $5,000. This means that drivers involved in accidents must now file a report only if the resulting property damage is $5,000 or more, or if there is injury or death.  However, if a vehicle involved in an accident does not have proof of insurance, the driver is required to file a report regardless of the amount of damage or whether there were injuries. In addition, the bill mandates that all accident reports submitted by drivers and law enforcement officers must be made electronically.

While this was the only proactive policy bill that advanced to the Governor’s desk this session, there were several unfriendly bills drafted that were defeated that would have had a negative impact on our ISPA members.  There were multiple bills that were introduced regarding License Plate Readers (LPR), as well as an Automatic Traffic Enforcement (ATE) amendments. While we did not have these issues in our priorities, limiting access to the tools for law enforcement to do their jobs is something that we will continue to navigate in the legislature. These bills were at the end of the session negotiations, which means these subjects will not go away. The bills did not make it to the finish line, and we will be working with other law enforcement groups to steer the legislature in the direction that will not hinder your jobs.  CONTINUE READING
  

A Creed of Dependability
By SPO Brian Joseph, Des Moines Police Dept.

Be dependable.  From the first day of the academy, throughout a career, and on all fronts of life, be dependable.  Recruits hear it over and over again.  Strive to be the best in knowledge, skill set, and overall function.  That being said, rarely is one ever “the best.”  However, strive and succeed to be dependable.  THAT is attainable. 

I’ve been in law enforcement for 14 years.  I’ve had the privilege to serve as a night-watch patrol officer, a task force member charged with suppressing violent crime, a S.W.A.T. operator, and a robbery-homicide detective.  Through those assignments, I learned what it truly meant to be dependable.  Mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and development was achieved (and absolutely needed).  Following those assignments, I was selected for what to me is the greatest privilege I could be given: recruit training officer. 

Across six years in that assignment, I have trained over 170 recruits.  Fourteen years of law enforcement and charged with many different assignments, I was and still am not “the best” in any capacity.    CONTINUE READING
  

NAPO Priority Bills Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 
From NAPO's "The Washington Report" 05/21/2026

In honor of National Police Week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a slate of seven bipartisan, pro-law enforcement bills on May 14th, including two of NAPO’s priority legislation: the Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program Expansion Act (S. 3897) and the Fighting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Act (S. 825). This is a win for NAPO as we have been working for months with the Committee to secure the markup and approval of these important bills.  

The Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro PSOB Program Expansion Act would make vital changes to the PSOB Program to increase transparency and accountability and ensure the Program honors and supports officers and their families who have sacrificed so much in service to their communities, including:  CONTINUE READING