In 1946, following World War II, District 13 was created as one of three new districts within the Iowa Highway Patrol. District 13 originally consisted of eleven counties: Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, Van Buren, Wapello and Washington. In 1960, the District office was moved to the Mount Pleasant City Hall and three of the original counties were moved to District 14 in a statewide reorganization. Those counties were: Davis, Mahaska and Wapello. Keokuk County remained a part of District 13 until 1995 when it was also transferred to District 14.
The District 13 office was originally located at the Fairfield City Hall, but was later moved to the police station in Fairfield. In 1976, the current district office was completed on Highway 218 on the south side of Mount Pleasant. In April 2010, District 14 in Ottumwa was closed and combined with District 13. Davis, Keokuk, Mahaska and Wapello counties were added to District 13. The eleven counties currently served by District 13 are: Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Keokuk, Jefferson, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, Van Buren, Wapello and Washington. The District 13 office also houses the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and State Fire Marshalβs Office (SFM). Two Iowa Correctional facilities, Fort Madison and Mount Pleasant, are located within District 13.
District 13 personnel were some of the first to respond to prison uprisings at the maximum security correctional facility in Fort Madison. They also responded to and coordinated rescue efforts for the Amtrak derailment east of Batavia. District 13 is covered with multiple four -lane highways, which include the "Avenue of the Saints" (Highway 218/Highway 27), U.S. Highway 34 and U.S. Highway 61 from Burlington to Keokuk.
District 13 personnel provided assistance to the FAA in airplane crashes at the Fairfield airport during the late 1980s and the Fort Madison airport in the early 1990s. District 13 troopers were also heavily involved in traffic control, detour routes, and security assignments during the floods of 2008 throughout southeast Iowa.
District 13 has provided assistance to Homeland Security efforts to protect vital transportation assets, including the Burlington Northern railroad bridge in Fort Madison. Troopers provide annual support for the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mount Pleasant, West Point Sweet Corn Festival and the Tri-State Rodeo in Fort Madison. District 13 often assists at regularly scheduled events such as the Iowa State Fair, University of Iowa football games, the Farm Progress Show, and R.A.G.B.R.A.I.
Iowa State Patrol District #13
1300 Grand Ave Ste 201
Mount Pleasant IA 52641
319.385.8715