Per DPS Policy 18-01.01, the following are the minimum hiring qualifications to be considered for employment as a peace officer for the State of Iowa.
There shall be strict adherence to the following minimum qualifications. No exceptions will be made. Applicants not meeting or maintaining these minimum standards throughout the entire selection process will not be considered for employment as a peace officer with the Department of Public Safety - State of Iowa.
- CITIZENSHIP
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An applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
- RESIDENCE
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An applicant does NOT have to be a resident of Iowa to apply. Residency is required at time of graduation from the Iowa DPS Academy.
- AGE
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Trooper 1 (Post #16 - Capitol Complex): must be at least eighteen (18) years of age upon graduation from the Iowa DPS Academy.
Trooper 2, Fire Inspector, Special Agent 2: must be at least twenty-two (22) years of age upon graduation from the Iowa DPS Academy.
The maximum age for a sworn peace officer is sixty-five (65) years of age.
- EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
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Trooper 1, Trooper 2, Fire Inspector: High School Diploma/GED and no prior experience.
Special Agent 2: (must be ONE of the following examples)
High School Diploma/GED + five (5) years of law enforcement experience as a sworn federal, state or local peace officer
OR
AA Degree + three (3) years of law enforcement experience as a sworn federal, state or local peace officer
OR
BA/BS Degree + no prior experienceArson Investigator: (must be ONE of the following examples)
High School Diploma/GED + five (5) years of law enforcement experience as a sworn federal, state or local peace officer; OR
five (5) years experience as a full-time paid, professional firefighter or fire officer with an organized federal, state, local or
military fire department
OR
AA Degree + three (3) years of law enforcement experience as a sworn federal, state or local peace officer; OR three (3) years
as a full-time paid, professional firefighter or fire officer with an organized federal, state, local or military fire department.
OR
BA/BS Degree + no prior experience - PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
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Applicants who will become sworn peace officers are required to be in acceptable physical and mental condition to perform their duties under physically and emotionally demanding conditions.
Vision and Hearing Standards for Peace Officer Applicants
Essential Physical Job Tasks and Functions of a DPS Peace Officer
Medical conditions not specified will be evaluated by the Department's physician whose decision is final.
- GOOD MORAL CHARACTER
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Applicants must be of good moral character, which means that they can be trusted and are considered by those who know them to be a person of good reputation and good standing in the community.
When conduct is of a nature that, if known, would tend to discredit the applicant as a peace officer, the applicant will not be employed.
The character of a person is determined by past behavior. Many factors are relevant in this assessment.
The Department seeks applicants whose histories show good judgment, maturity, a sense of responsibility, and the respect of others.
- AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS
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Conviction or commission of an illegal act that would constitute a felony (as defined by Iowa law).
Conviction of an aggravated misdemeanor (as defined by Iowa law).
Conviction or commission of income tax evasion, perjury or its subornation, theft 1st, 2nd or 3rd, indecent exposure, sex crimes, conspiracy to commit a crime, defrauding the government and illegal drug sales.
Conviction or commission of assault, domestic abuse, or other offenses of domestic violence, stalking, and any offense in which a weapon was used in the commission of the act.
Conviction or commission of obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, or assaulting a peace officer.
Providing false or misleading information to the Department at any time during the application process.
Misrepresentation at any time during the application process regarding the use of prescription or illegal drugs.
Unlawful sale of ANY controlled substance.Use of marijuana and/or THC products within the past one (1) year prior to the receipt of application.
Use of any other illegal controlled substance within the past three (3) years prior to the receipt of application.
Use of any illegal controlled substance while employed in any law enforcement or prosecutorial position, or while employed in a position which carries with it a high level of responsibility or public trust.
Conviction or guilty plea to an alcohol/drug related driving offense (including deferred judgment and deferred sentence) three (3) years prior to the receipt of application.
Suspension, cancellation or revocation of driving privileges in the two (2) years prior to receipt of application due to a moving traffic violation(s). Other suspensions, cancellations or revocations will be evaluated. Note: Suspensions, cancellations or revocations of a graduated driver’s license will be evaluated.
Conviction or plea to five (5) moving violations in the three (3) years prior to the receipt of application.
Bias based on race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
- FACTORS THAT WILL BE EVALUATED
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Commission of an aggravated misdemeanor (as defined by Iowa law).
Conviction or commission of a serious misdemeanor (as defined by Iowa law).
Conviction or guilty plea to an alcohol/drug related driving offense (including deferred judgment and deferred sentence) three (3) years or longer from the receipt of application will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Pattern of serious traffic offenses
Pattern of assaultive behavior
Underage drinking
Public intoxication
Habitual marijuana use
Consistent pattern of unexplained failures to meet debt obligations
Pattern of vehicle collisions
Misuse of authority or excessive use of force while employed in any law enforcement or prosecutorial position, or while employed in a position which carries with it a high level of responsibility or trust.
Any admission of misuse of any prescription drug
Pattern of underage drinking or binge drinking
Conviction, plea, charge, or admission to supplying alcohol to minors
Character or reputation regarding untruthfulness.
Theft 4th or 5th degree or other crime of dishonesty or breach of trust.