Welcome to the Police Department at the City of Pella, Iowa, USA

Over the past year the Pella Police Reserve Organization has hired two new reserve police officers and has had one reserve officer move on to a full-time police position. This brings the total number of current reserve officers to seven. Reserve Police Officers have assisted the police department with the ever-increasing workload by volunteering over 1882 hours during the past year. Pella Police Reserve Officers attend events at Pella High School, Pella Christian High School, and Central College to provide them with increased security. They also patrol Central Park and the surrounding business district on Sunday nights to control increased traffic during the “cruising” hours. Reserve Police Officers also assist with Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau sTEP projects, numerous search warrants, surveillance projects and extra patrol to help cover the city during peak times.

Five of the seven Reserve Police Officers have completed the 150 hours of training through Indian Hills Community College which included traffic control, traffic stops, patrol techniques, felony traffic stops, crisis prevention, defensive tactics, search and seizure, felony in progress, active shooter, motor vehicle law, and accident investigation. The training will allow them to become State Certified Reserve Police Officers per the requirements of Chapter 80D of the State of Iowa Code. All seven of the reserve officers are CPR and Basic First Aid certified. The Pella Police Reserve organization is always looking for good candidates with interest in law enforcement that would like to help keep Pella a safe place to live.

There shall be a fifteen dollars ($15.00) fine for parking violations. If the violation remains unpaid for over 30 days, the fine will increase to twenty dollars ($20.00). Subsequent charges will be filed in 60-90 days of issuance if the infraction remains unpaid.

Dogs and/or cats are required to be leashed. If they are picked up and transported to the pound a fee of $35.00 is charged to the owner. The fee is waived for those owners notifying the police department that their pet is lost prior to transportation. Those choosing to allow their pet to roam at large will be charged with ”Animal at Large” charges.

City of Pella Open Burning, Code 105.06; No person shall allow, cause or permit open burning of combustible materials where the products of combustion are emitted into the open air without passing through a chimney or stack.

If you live outside the city limits of Pella, it is permissible to open burn. We do request that if you are in the City of Pella fire district, and you plan a controlled burn, that you please call the police department before starting, and also to let us know when you have completed the controlled burn.

Iowa law requires a person to have financial liability coverage for their vehicles and be able, upon request of a peace officer, to present such proof. If a peace officer stops a vehicle and proof is not provided a fee of up to $380 may be charged. If they are involved in an accident and no proof is provided a fee of up to $710.00 may be charged.

It is unlawful for any person to use, consume or possess an open or unsealed container of alcoholic liquors or beer upon the public streets or highway, or any public places including city parks, public or private school property or while attending any public or private school related function.

State law now required all sales of keg beer to include a numbered sticker affixed to the keg. The number will correspond to the seller’s record of the purchaser’s name, address and license or IS number, all oh which are available to law enforcement.

Violations of this law, including defacing or removing the sticker are punishable as simple misdemeanors. This law should help law enforcement determine responsibility for those who make beer available to under age persons.

Seat belts are required for all front seat passengers. If not used, a fine of $83.00 is assessed. The fine is the same for Fail to Secure Child. Iowa’s child safety seat law has been revised, effective July 1, 2004.

One of the law’s main objectives is to get three, four and five year old children in safety or booster seats. The seats are much safer than having the child use only the seat belts provided in vehicles. The law also extends the age for use of child restraints. Formerly restraints were only required for children up to six years old, now up to eleven years old is mandatory.

1. Children younger than one and weighing less than 20 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing child safety seat.

2. Children through age five must be secured in a safety seat or a booster seat.

3. Children ages six to ten must use one of the following; a safety/booster seat, vehicle seat belt, or a harness.

For questions concerning changes in the law, please contact the Pella Police Department at 641.628.4921. If you have questions concerning proper use and installation of your child safety equipment, call to visit with Officer Dave Orr, our child safety seat technician. Link to more information www.infant-car-seats.com/states/car-seats-laws-Iowa.html

Where traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Wireless Phones & 911 calls

Get to know your wireless phone and its features such as speed dial, redial and voicemail.

• Use a hands-free device.

• Position your wireless phone within easy reach.

• Suspend conversations during hazardous driving conditions or situations.

• Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving.

• Place calls when you are not moving or before pulling into traffic.

• Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may be distracting.

Used Cellular Phones

Recently, the Pella Police Department has become a collection center for used cellular phones. This program will serve a community purpose, as there is no place in the Pella area to dispose of a cellular phone in an environmentally friendly manner.

Proceeds from this program will be used to support the Police Department’s motorcycle patrol program.

A drop box is located in the lobby at the Pella Police Department where the cellular phones can be left. Only cellular phones are accepted- no accessories or chargers are accepted.

Even if you don't ride in a motor vehicle, you still have to protect yourself. Because of minimal supervision, young pedestrians face a wide variety of decisions making situations and dangers while walking to and from school. Here are a few basic safety tips to follow:

• Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard -- never cross the street against a light, even if you don't see any traffic coming.

• You might have heard before that most traffic crashes occur close to home ... they do.

• Safety belts are the best form of protection passengers have in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury by 45%.

• You are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.

• Everyone needs to be buckled up properly. That means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats and little kids in child safety seats.

School bus transportation is safe. In fact, buses are safer than cars! Even so, last year, approximately 26 students were killed and another 9,000 were injured in incidents involving school buses. More often than not, these deaths and injuries didn't occur in a crash, but as the pupils were entering and exiting the bus. Remember these safety tips:

• Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.

• When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus.

• Stay away from the bus until the driver gives his/her signal that it's okay to approach.

• Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses, however, not all do. Protect yourself and watch out!

With the beginning of the severe weather season upon us, the police department will once again start doing the audible Outdoor Warning System tests. These tests are conducted on the first Saturday of each month, from March to September. The alarm is a single monotone sound which will sound for approximately one minute, at which time there will be an announcement, “This is a test of the Pella outdoor warning test”. After the announcement the air horn will sound, letting citizens know that the test is complete.

When the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Marion County the Pella Police Department will sound the Outdoor Warning System. When a real threat is imminent the monotone alarm will sound for approximately three minutes, at which time there will be an announcement, “A tornado has been sighted, please take immediate shelter”. After the announcement and the threat of severe weather has passed, the air horn will sound, signaling all clear.

The first tone activated is a continuous, steady siren, which during an actual warning indicates that Marion County, including the Pella area, has been placed under a tornado warning according to the National Weather Service. During the testing process, the public address system is activated with a test message, however in the event of an actual warning, the public address is only activated if a tornado has been sighted and citizens are then instructed of the sighting and to take immediate shelter. In the past there has been some confusion deciphering the fire siren and tornado siren. The siren activated in conjunction with a fire is a wail siren verses the several minute duration of the tornado alert siren.

The pulsating air horn tone (all clear) is sounded after notification, from the National Weather Service, indicating that the severe weather is no longer a threat to our community. It can be several minutes until the all clear is declared following an actual warning being issued.

The community is reminded that this is an “outdoor” system and that the intent is to notify citizens outside their houses of severe weather. Those persons indoors that can hear the tones are fortunate and should tune to their local media for updates regarding the weather.

Businesses concerned about alerting their employees while at work should consider purchasing a device that is activated as an indoor warning system. The device is normally located in an office where it can be monitored and thus notification of the workers is immediate. This notification process is also initiated from the police department following a cue from the National Weather Service. Business managers and owners should consider preparing a written procedure to keep staff and patrons safe.

Inquiries regarding the outdoor and indoor warning systems should be forwarded to the Pella Police Department, 614 Main, Pella, 628-4921, during business hours. Concerns about sites not working properly should be referred to the department as well. Each site has a battery back up in case of a power failure, audible tests are conducted the first Saturday of each month from March to October and silent testing is done during the winter months; however the integrity of the system is the responsibility of the entire community.

Late in 2005, two additional siren sites were installed to provide coverage of the recent city expansion. One site is located by Vermeer Manufacturing and the other in the Westpoort Development area.

We encourage residents to familiarize themselves with the testing and inquire about the system prior to an actual tornado warning activation. The police department requests that you limit phone calls during a storm warning to those needing immediate assistance.

As a reminder to the citizens of Pella, it is unlawful to make a left turn, in order to diagonally park. Please refer to the City of Pella ordinance:

“64.04; LEFT TURN FOR PARKING. No person shall make a left hand turn, crossing the centerline of the street, for the purpose of parking on said street.”

Department of Transportation Schedule

Driver’s license examiners are at the Pella Community Center every first and third Friday of the month, 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., phone 641.628.1695. A driver’s license can also be obtained at the Marion County Treasurer’s Office Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., phone 641.828.2205. Out of state drivers must take the written test and obtain an Iowa driver’s license 30 days after residency within the state. Two license plates along with vehicle registration are obtained from the Marion County Treasurer’s Office located in the courthouse in Knoxville, IA.

Frequently Asked Questions
1. Residents moving to Iowa from another state have 30 days to obtain:

2. Residents needing to renew their driver's license have 30 days before and 60 days after their birthday to renew.

During the week of May 4, 2008 through May 10, 2008, the Pella Police Department received 157 calls for service, issued 24 citations and 3 warning citations, 31 parking tickets and arrested 6 people resulting in 11 charges.

During the week of May 4, 2008 through May 10, 2008, the communications center fielded 320 telephone calls, assisted 63 people at the window, and fielded 36 incoming calls on the 911 system.

 On 05/04/08 Adam S. Galt, 20, of Normal, IL was charged with possession of alcohol under legal age. Adam was cited and released.

 On 05/04/08 Ernest E. Scheffers, 54, of Pella was charged with public intoxication. Ernest was incarcerated for the night.

 On 05/05/08 a juvenile was charged with reckless use of fire. The juvenile was cited and released to his grandparents.

 On 05/05/08 a second juvenile was charged with reckless use of fire. The juvenile was cited and released to his grandparents.

 On 05/08/08 Christopher A. Watkins, 18, of Pella was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication, and theft. Christopher was incarcerated for the night.

 On 05/09/08 Victor M. Gunter, 48, of Blue Springs, MO was charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, interference with official acts causing bodily injury, and assault on a peace officer causing bodily injury. Victor was incarcerated for the night.

During the week of May 4, 2008, through May 11, 2008 the Code Enforcement Officer received 5 calls for service, 5 incoming calls, detected 20 violations, resolved 18, and made contact with 18 people. Two violations resolved from the week of 4/14/08, one resolved from 4/28/08 and one resolved from week of 10/23/07.