SPENCER POLICE DEPARTMENT

POLICE CHIEF
Mark Lawson
405 1st Avenue West - Spencer, IA 51301 - Phone: 712/262-2151 - Fax: 712/262-8115

The City of Spencer was originally named Spencer Grove and in 1892 John Ancken was appointed as the first law enforcement officer to serve that community. Since that time, the name of the city was changed to Spencer and the police department continued to grow with the community. In 1936, the police department had four officers and acquired the first patrol vehicle, which was a Model A Ford. In 1940, there were six officers on the department and they still responded to a red light outside the police department that was activated by telephone operators when they received a call for help. In 1948, the department had grew to eight officers and it was during this time frame that a police radio system was installed and the red light warning system was abolished.

Today, Spencer Police Department has nineteen sworn police officers and 9 civilian staff. The Spencer Police Department and the Clay County Sheriffs Department have a joint facility and jointly share certain equipment.

The Spencer Police Department continuously strives to protect and serve our city. During the fiscal year of July 1994 and June 1995, the officers responded to 11,058 complaints and made 643 arrests. The Spencer Police Department and the Spencer Community Schools have a very successful D.A.R.E. program which involves six classes of sixth graders who are taught by a police officer to resist drugs. Additionally, the Neighborhood Watch Program has been implemented in our community and has been labeled by many as a successful community project. Other programs that are currently being implemented or used by the Spencer Police Department are:

Vacation House Watch                                        Bicycle Rodeo
Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force                    Crime Prevention/Education
School Liason                                                     Crime Stoppers
Child Fingerprinting                                            Bicycle Patrol
Child Protection Committee                                Drug Recognition Expert

The personnel of the Spencer Police Department are dedicated to their cause and will continue to cooperate with the citizens they serve to keep Spencer a safe place to live and work.

City of Spencer
418 2nd Avenue West
Spencer, IA 51301
712/580-7200
E-mail: spencer@smunet.net

SPENCER POLICE DEPARTMENT

GENERAL INFORMATION