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ISPA Legislative Day
By Matt Mullen , ISPA Director
On January 29th, 2026, the Iowa State Police Association hosted its annual Legislative Day at the capital in Des Moines. This day brings together ISPA board members, ISPA members, other law enforcement professionals, and legislators for important discussions on current and future legislative issues that impact our profession.
The morning began with a well-attended open-house style breakfast for the legislators hosted by the ISPA board members, with other local ISPA representatives also in attendance. ISPA board members and others engaged in productive conversations with the legislators outlining our priorities for this legislative session. Key topics again this year were continued conversations about the recruitment and retention challenges that we are facing, as well as other efforts to support officers across the state. READ MORE
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RONALD HOLTKAMP (1941-2025)
BURLINGTON POLICE LOCAL # 3
ROBERT HOLSAPPLE (1957-2025)
MARSHALLTOWN POLICE LOCAL # 17
WESLEY FRANCIS (1931-2026)
WATERLOO POLICE LOCAL # 12
CHARLES PETERS (1937-2026)
CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE LOCAL # 5
MARVIN HOLMBERG (1932-2025)
BOONE POLICE LOCAL # 15
DONALD HART (1932-2026)
BOONE POLICE LOCAL # 15
LARRY COFFIN (1946-2026)
WATERLOO POLICE LOCAL # 12
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LEGAL ADMINISTRATOR'S COLUMN
Stephen Foertsch, ISPA LDF Legal Administrator, Bruno Law, PLLC
What to Expect Following a Critical Incident
An officer, paraphrasing a quote from a World War I memoir, once told me that patrol is “hours of boredom punctuated by moments of intense excitement.”
A critical incident is certainly one of these intense moments, following which I have my first opportunity to meet many of you. Some of you know the procedure, some of you do not, but all involved in a critical incident experience something that will be with them, likely, for the rest of their lives. In moments such as these, with the intensity, the uncertainty, the emotion, and the adrenaline, a plan—knowing what to expect—provides a soothing sense of control. In light of that, I thought I would use this column as opportunity to discuss the basics of critical incidents. [1]
A natural starting point would be the definition of “critical incident” under the LDF Plan Document. But first, if you take nothing else from this article, take this: the first rule in a critical incident is “Keep Calm & Shut Your Pie Hole.™” [2]
The second rule of a critical incident is “Keep Calm and Shut your Pie Hole.™” [3]
CONTINUE READING
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ISPA Lobbyist Week 6 Report
By Fitzgerald, Smith & Associates, Lobbyists
The 2026 Legislative session has now surpassed the six-week mark and reached the conclusion of its initial funnel deadline. Since the session's commencement, the two chambers have held subcommittees to review 865 bills. Each of these bills after passing through subcommittee would still have to make it through the full committee to survive funnel. The funnel deadline serves as a legislative mechanism for eliminating bills that lack sufficient support among chamber members. Notably, this year was different from previous practice—many bills were advanced to full committee despite limited backing or considerable opposition, rather than being “killed” at the subcommittee stage.
ISPA experienced an active week, providing testimony at multiple subcommittee meetings. This session saw several Automatic Plate Reader bills introduced; notably, two measures—HF-2161 and HF-2555 (both detailed in the bill watch report)—successfully advanced through House committees and have passed the first funnel. ISPA representatives testified before the subcommittees, and both bill managers indicated a willingness to consider our feedback as decisions are made regarding which legislation to move forward.
CONTINUE READING
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NAPO Submits Testimony for House Hearing on the Use of Federal Monitors.
From NAPO's "The Washington Report" 02/20/2026
The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, chaired by Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ), held a hearing on February 13, entitled "The Monitoring Racket: The Grift that Keeps on Giving.” The hearing focused on the federal monitors overseeing the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department (MCSD) settlement agreement, which has been in place since 2011, and their abuse of the monitoring system for their own unrelated gain. While the hearing concentrated on the MCSD settlement agreement, the issues faced by Maricopa County and the Sheriff’s Department are not unique to this settlement agreement.
The history of the Department of Justice’s use of consent decrees and settlement agreements within the state and local law enforcement context is checkered. In some cases, improper or concerning practices or situations have been correctly identified, addressed, and resolved, and the decree closed or otherwise set aside. In too many other cases, however, the decree process, once in place, turns into a self-perpetuating entity, with monitors overseeing what becomes, in effect, a cottage industry of oversight and shifting goalposts. CONTINUE READING
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