Road Patrol Division

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Division is comprised of 27 full time Deputies, 15 Special Deputies, 3 Sergeants/shift supervisors which report to the Uniform Division Lieutenant in charge of the Road Patrol division.
Administrative oversight of the Road Patrol Division is by the Chief Deputy.
The Uniform Division Lieutenant, in addition to supervising the Road Patrol, also oversees; The Civil Division and the Court Security Division along with the vehicle fleet for the Sheriff’s Office.

Responsibilities of those members assigned to the Road Patrol Division shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Preventive patrol - This activity begins with the officer's mere presence in a marked vehicle in an area; however, in order to be truly effective, must include appropriate inquiry and inspection activity as well. A thorough knowledge of one's patrol area, along with constant vigilance for the potential violations of public order and the curiosity to determine the reasons for unusual activity, will contribute greatly to the prevention of crimes and accidents.
2. Crime prevention activities - Through regular contact with the public, members will become aware of situations which may have the potential for, or appear to encourage criminal activity. The Road Patrol Deputy is in an excellent position to educate the citizen and to enlist his aid in the prevention of crime.
3. Response to called-for services - Because officers are in constant radio contact with the 9-1-1 Center while in an on-duty status, they are in a position to respond with appropriate speed to any call for service.
4. Traffic Enforcement - An integral part of keeping our streets and highways safe is the vigilant enforcement of the Vehicle and Traffic laws of the State of Iowa.  It is through reasonable and proper enforcement of these laws that a great many lives are saved every year nationwide.
5. First Responders - All members of the Sheriff's Office Road Patrol are trained in CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The sooner these life saving techniques are used, the greater the chances for survival.
6. K9 - The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has one K-9; “Francesco”. Francesco is considered a “full service” K-9 unit due to the fact she is certified in several areas:
   • Obedience
   • Criminal Tracks
   • Article Searches
   • Area Searches
   • Narcotics Detection
   • Criminal Apprehension