Iowa State Fair Forms Police Agency
Des Moines IA Aug 16 2018 There’s a new armed police force roaming the stands and sidewalks of the Iowa State Fair this year.
Fairgoers may have seen Iowa State Fair Police officers patrolling the grounds, donning classic blue uniforms with a twist — white cowboy hats.
The new police force consists of state-certified officers, but it is funded by the Iowa State Fair Authority with the goal of bringing additional security and enforcement to the fair this year. While the fair has hired private security to work alongside local law enforcement agencies in the past, officials decided this time to hire their own officers who have the power to arrest and to issue citations.
Unlike the majority of police departments in Iowa, the Iowa State Fair Police isn’t funded or operated by a government entity. The State Fair is so big, though, with over 100,000 visitors on the busiest days, that it can feel like the police force is overseeing a town, said Iowa State Fair Police Cmdr. Doug Phillips.
On any given day, there could be 100 law enforcement officers at the fair.
“For major events like this, it’s a small city, and we approach it like that,” Phillips said.
The new police force will work at the campgrounds and the events going on at the fairgrounds year-round. Last year, there were 350 events at the Iowa State Fairgrounds besides the signature event, Phillips said.
All of the officers on the police force are certified peace officers in Iowa. They’re armed with handguns, handcuffs and other enforcement tools and weapons.
The police department is comprised of six full-time police officers and a group of part-time officers with a mix of retired and active-duty officers looking for supplemental income. There are five female officers and several officers who know multiple languages, including officers from Bosnia and Guatemala.
“I’ve got quite a bit of diversity, and I like it that way,” Phillips said.
Arrests made by the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa State Fair Police are logged together.
Despite the increase in law enforcement presence, arrest numbers in 2018 are similar to 2017, said Sgt. Nathan Ludwig, spokesman for Iowa State Patrol. Sixty-five people were arrested during the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the fair last year, while 68 people were arrested during the weekend this year.
The most common offense at the fair is public intoxication. There is a booking center on site at the fair where officers handle their paperwork. Des Moines police and the State Patrol have transport vehicles to bring people to Polk County Jail from the fairgrounds, said Iowa State Patrol Trooper Alex Dinkla.
“It’s very helpful. Having them now be police officers instead of security officers, they are a great assistance for us,” Dinkla said, about the new police force.
While the majority of law enforcement organizations in Iowa are employed by public entities, across the country, a growing number of businesses and event organizers are hiring sworn police officers.
In Iowa, a certified peace officer has the power to arrest and to enforce the law in any part of the state.
Most private enforcement in Iowa involves security officers who are not certified and cannot arrest people, said Steve Martin, professor of criminal justice at Des Moines Area Community College.
Across the country, there are 800,000 employed public police officers and 2 million security guards and privately hired officers, Martin said.
“That became more prominent after 9/11 when even public entities started hiring private security firms to protect vital infrastructure around the country,” Phillips said.
Even though officers may be hired by a business or organization like the Iowa State Fair Authority, Martin said he doesn’t expect those officers would change their behaviors.
“I don’t think bias would be a concern to me, especially if I hired the right people,” Martin said. “You represent the company, but your job is to serve the customers or the constituents. I think the customer service is the same if you’re a private company or public employee officer.”
As budgets get more constrained in municipalities and fewer officers are hired, more businesses may look into hiring their own police force for security, said Dan Marcou, a retired lieutenant with La Crosse police department in Wisconsin.
When there were large events or protests in La Crosse, the police department would hire and swear in officers from neighboring areas to work for a couple of days and assist.
Iowa’s fair isn’t unique in having its own police force. Places like the Minnesota State Fair and the Wisconsin State Fair also have their own police departments.
“What people like most is the highly trained aspect of it,” Marcou said. “If they’re still sworn, all the better.”
That’s the benefit the Iowa State Fair Police hope to bring to the fairgrounds, Phillips said.
Instead of security guards calling the police, the new police force is able to take action right away if things get out of hand.
“The majority of what we do is interact with people,” Phillips said. “Our officers are out there walking on foot among the people. They’re having conversations. A lot of folks have told us that they’re glad to see us out here.”
Des Moines Register
