Agency Type: Sheriff's Office

Population Size, based on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau: 19,397

Agency Size: 27 total - 13 sworn; 14 non-sworn

Initiative Partnership(s): Maquoketa Police Department; Bellevue Police Department; Jackson County Conservation Department; Preston Police Department; Sabula Police Department; Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Eastern Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services

Grant Focus Area(s): Technology; Training; Mental Health/Crisis Response

Agency Profile

The Jackson County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) has 13 sworn officers who serve a population of over 19,000 spanning a 584-square-mile area. The jurisdiction covers agriculture-based residences and recreational areas that can be very remote and diverse. Jackson County has experienced an increase in homicides and intimate partner violence alongside critical incidents for persons experiencing a mental health or behavioral crisis. These mental health crises are often accompanied by substance abuse and the presence of a weapon.

The JCSO plans to fund a regional training hub with virtual reality training capabilities to enhance officer response. The JCSO will create a training cadre with partner agency representatives to assist with training hub setup and training scenario development. The virtual training platform will allow two officers to collaborate in a fully flexible virtual environment using tools consistent with patrol as they respond to scenarios in real time. The development of this training hub will allow all the law enforcement agencies in Jackson County and surrounding jurisdictions to train together regularly and learn techniques that promote positive and safe outcomes in all law enforcement responses.

Agency Outcomes

Coming Soon