Iowa

Iowa State Patrol, Des Moines became (KGHO) APCO short call on C.W., was (DS). The Division was created in 1935 (as the Iowa Highway Safety Patrol), after an act creating the Patrol was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. Earlier it was stated The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) noted the worth of radio early on and was instructing departments in its use as early as 1928. Initially the Iowa State Patrol was composed of 53 men.

Later that same year (35) the word Safety was dropped from the name and the unit became known simply as the “Iowa Highway Patrol, by the early 1970's the name again was changed to reflect the change that Iowans felt was needed, the Iowa Highway Patrol became known as the Iowa State Patrol. The change was quickly reflected by the difference in the uniform shoulder patches and by the wording of the logos on the car doors.

The Iowa motto is, “Courtesy, Service and Protection.” Iowa is one of the few police agencies that doesn't utilize helicopters in the field. District 1 was established in 1939 comprising counties in Central Iowa along the present I35 and Interstate 80 corridor. Currently the Patrol offices are on the north side of Des Moines, the district office has previously been housed in the basement of the Capitol Building, the State Fairgrounds and the Armand Building and a converted house on the Capitol grounds.

Our ancient 1945 APCO Listing post war has the Des Moines State Patrol Headquarters (KGHO) Radio telephone and Radio telegraph utilizing 1682, 2804, 2808 2812 5195 5140 5135 7480 7805 and 7935 Khz. Portable mobile channels are 35.780 and 35.220 MHZ. They have a 27-4 guard on the following; 1682 - 2466 - 35.220 - 35.780 - 2804 -5195 and 7935 khz.

A bit of rare history knowledge is simply in the late 1940s The Big Voice Broadcaster WHO 1040 in Des Moines awarded the bottom two thirds of their old A.M. diamond Blaw-Knox tower to Iowa State Patrol Headquarters in that city for use as a utility radio tower. It was installed in the rear of the State Patrol Station HQ Des Moines.

Today the ISP communications operation is a statewide network with six (6) Com Centers and 28 repeater sites, strategically located throughout the state. The Comm. Division consists of 65 employees including the Captain, Asst. Communications officer and 3 regional center managers, communications specialists, technical manager, communications technicians, engineers and secretaries. The communications technical section provides maintenance for all radio comm equipment, in-car camera equipment, radar and other electronic gear for the Dept. Of Public Safety’s personnel which includes engineering design, specifications and implementation of all radio and electronic equipment. The Corn Belt Police are dedicated and continue to serve. Credit DPS for ISP district information and APCO research.