Cutting Edge Law Enforcement


by Mari Radtke
Getting long term, reliable law enforcement officers has been one of small town America’s greatest challenges in recent years. The cost of equipment and vehicles, compensation, and insurance are front-runner expenses of a police department. Certification and training are high on the list of things that makes staffing a police department difficult. Then comes the working conditions. A community may want 24/7 coverage, but with a department of one, that may be a bit of an overreach. Department sharing was utilized with Paullina utilizing a 28E agreement. That didn’t work.
So what does a community of 2000, 1000 or even 500 do to protect its people and property? After a few different individual officers comprising the department of one by the City of Sutherland, a solution has evolved. And it is spreading.
Beginning Labor Day weekend 2024, the City of Sutherland has had a police department of six. That number of properly certified and trained individuals is impossible to hire for a city the size of Sutherland. Yet here we are.
Hat’s off to Chief Brent Koppie. He approached Mayor Kay Gifford with a concept that took a little time to convince her City Council was a great solution. They all recognized that the city could not afford to hire and maintain a police department to provide good coverage. But the concept being considered by some, pushed by others was really new. Possibly unheard of. But the approaching Labor Day Celebration and an exhausted Mayor who found resistance from County Law Enforcement to provide assistance eventually won approval for the exciting new way to staff a police force.
Koppie has known of this program being successful in other communities. It is driven by the difficulty of hiring and retaining officers across the country.
Coverage in Sutherland is at 40 hours per week over all 7 days. On Monday January 6, Calumet officially agreed to join Sutherland to get some coverage for its citizens also, beginning in February. All officers are parttime in Sutherland. Their patrol hours are varied. With six officers to share the shifts, none are overburdened with taking every holiday, weekend or over night shift. The City (ies) don’t bear the burden of overtime or overworked personnel.
Each of the six were already certified Iowa Law enforcement. Each is gainfully employed elsewhere. They come from other communities, county or state departments. They are kind enough to get extra hours coming to Sutherland, and in one case, Paullina who has adopted the same staffing system under Chief Nate Bremer. Sutherland’s police force experience is collectively 98 years!
Members of the Sutherland Police Department are Chief Brent Koppie, Jake Dyslin, Will Roder, Kenny Frank, John Sells, and Cain Junkman. On January 6, Cain received official approval to bring Oliver, a new K9 to Sutherland as well.
The officers and the council have commented, “Brent has done a phenomenol job. He is qualified and the work is amazing.” The officers like Sutherland adding they have no complaints. Kopping said, “The people are friendly and we have had a positive response to law enforcement.” Their feedback has been good.
Mayor Kay Gifford added, “My life is much more pleasant since this department has been functioning. Their work ethic, dedication and experience is great!”