New Officer 8-week Basic Level II Certification

To become a certified police officer, Iowa law requires the successful completion of training at an approved law enforcement training facility. The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council has designated Hawkeye Community College as a Regional Law Enforcement Training Facility to provide certification training.

Officers must be certified within one year of their employment, unless the academy council has granted an extension under administrative rule 501-3.1(3) 80B.

Class Schedule

Enrollment Requirements

To attend 8-week Basic Level II Certification Academy, you must first be hired or sponsored by a Law Enforcement Agency and satisfy the following eligibility requirements.

1. Officer has satisfactorily completed
   • a two or four-year Police Science or Criminal Justice program at an accredited educational institution
     OR
   • law enforcement training in another state commensurate with basic training required in Iowa, and be able to provide verification of same.

2. Is a U.S. Citizen and a resident of Iowa or intend to become a resident upon being employed;

3. Is18 years of age at the time of appointment;

4. Holds a valid Iowa Driver’s license;

5. Is not addicted to drugs or alcohol [modified for Chapter 400 civil service positions by 400.17 of the Code of Iowa];

6. Is of good moral character as determined by a thorough back ground investigation including a fingerprint search conducted of local, state, and national fingerprint files  and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;

7. Has successfully passed a physical fitness test adopted by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. See physical agility requirements in item 14;

8. Is not by reason of conscience or belief opposed to the use of force, when necessary to fulfill that person’s duties;

9. Has uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20, and color vision consistent with the occupational demands of law enforcement;

10. Has normal hearing in each ear (hearing aids are acceptable if a candidate can demonstrate sufficient hearing proficiency to perform all necessary duties of a law enforcement officer);

11. Has been examined by a physician and meets the physical requirements necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer;

12. Undergo psychological testing;

13. Undergo cognitive [Basic Skills] testing. (paraphrased from the ILEA webpage, Frequently Asked Questions of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy)

14. Officer must pass the physical agility requirements below.

    Males	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-59	60+
    Sit & Reach	16.5	15.5	14.3	13.3	12.5
    Sit-ups (1 min.)	38	35	29	24	19
    Push-ups (1 min.)	29	24	18	13	10
    1.5 mile run	12:51	13:36	14:29	15:26	16:43

    Females	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-59	60+
    Sit & Reach	19.3	18.3	17.3	16.8	15.5
    Sit-ups (1 min.)	32	25	20	14	6
    Push-ups (1 min.)	15	11	9	12 *	5 *
    1.5 mile run	15:26	15:57	16:58	17:54	18:44

Tuition - $3150

 Included in the tuition is

• admission to the Interview and Interrogation two-day seminar
• the Iowa Motor Vehicle and Criminal Law Handbook
• ammunition
• Academy polo shirts

Vehicles for the precision driving course are also supplied by Hawkeye Community College.

Ammunition

Hawkeye Community College supplies lead-free 40-Cal, 45-Cal, 9mm and shotgun ammunition for training and qualification. Marking rounds for force-on-force training are also supplied.

Housing

A block of rooms has been reserved at the new Candlewood Suites hotel, a long-term-stay hotel, located across from Crossroads Mall in one of the largest shopping and restaurant areas in the Cedar Valley, a short distance from Hawkeye.

Candlewood Suites provides a complete kitchen with dishes, free use of the laundry facilities including soap, and barbeque grills for guest use. In addition, the Candlewood Suites has a workout room, swimming pool, hot tub, plus provides free passes to Gold's Gym, across from the hotel.

For more information on hotel rates, contact the Law Enforcement Coordinator.

Registration

Hiring or sponsoring agency must complete an information packet for the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to verify that the officer has met the minimum standards for Iowa Law Enforcement Officers [administrative rule 501(80B)].

Once the officer has been registered, an information packet will be mailed to the officer or deputy’s agency approximately four weeks prior to the start of the academy by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.