Our Community

Law Enforcement

Sioux City Police Department

Mission Statement

It is the Mission of the Sioux City Police Department to work in partnership with the community to provide for public safety, to promote community service, and to enhance the quality of life while maintaining respect for individual rights and human dignity. 

Sioux City fields a police department of 125 well-trained officers who provide around-the-clock security and law enforcement. All train regularly throughout the year in order to maintain skills and to learn new techniques that help them serve the changing needs of the community.

Community Team Policing

The principle law enforcement strategy of the Sioux City Police Department is called Community Team Policing. With this strategy the City is divided into nine (9) policing districts. Officers assigned to each district meet monthly to discuss trends and to resolve problems in the respective neighborhoods. Once each year officers hold a Town Hall Meeting in each district, where they listen to citizen concerns and develop tactics to address problems that affect local quality of life. This strategy enables the police to identify emerging issues and prevent them from becoming more troublesome problems. It also helps the officers to respond more quickly to the needs of the community.

National Accreditation

The Sioux City Police Department is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Fewer than 2% of law enforcement agencies in the country hold that distinction ( 2003 National Directory of Law Enforcement Administrators ). In order to earn it, the Department regularly reviews its policies and procedures so that it maintains high standards and performs with the greatest efficiencies possible.

A Safe City and Declining Crime Rates

In a 2003, city-wide survey 75% felt safe at city parks and other facilities at anytime day or night. Eighty-Seven percent (87%) felt the same walking in their neighborhood also at anytime.  Sioux City 's crime rate compares favorably with those of similar cities based upon data released yearly by the FBI. In fact, Sioux City is proud to note that its serious crimes have declined overall by 40% since 1995: Crimes against persons have dropped 75%, and crimes against property have fallen 33%.

School Resource Officers

The Department places a sworn officer in each of Sioux City's public high schools and middle schools. These officers have permanent assignments for the ntire school day at the respective buildings. They are also present at various extra-curricular activities. The School Resource Officers have a variety of duties at the schools. They counsel, protect the school from intruders, prevent/interrupt altercations, and maintain general order. Sioux City school administrators, faculty, students, and parents almost universally welcome the presence of the officers. There is no doubt that Sioux City's public schools are safer because of the assigned officers.

Volunteers In Police Service

The Volunteers In Police Service (VIP's) are the citizens armof the Department. Over one-hundred volunteers perform all types of community enhancement activities for the Police Department from setting up radar speed checks to collecting global positioning data for GIS. Some monitor handicap parking while others patrol the waterfront area on bicycle. The VIP's Blue Angels visit shut-ins to help them overcome loneliness and to educate them about crime prevention and identity theft.

Citizens Academy 

Twice each year the Department officers a simulated police academyfor citizens of Sioux City. Twenty-four adults meet one (1) night per week for ten (10) weeks to experience to some degree the training that officers undergo when attending a regular police academy. Citizens participate in a number of exercises including driving a squad car through obstacles, taking fingerprints, using handcuffs, and shooting at targets on the police firing range. The Citizens Academy is very popular with the public. It is a most enjoyable learning experience.

Youth Academy 

During late spring, the Department offers a scaled-down version of the Citizens Academy for 14 through 18 year-olds. While these students learn the basics, their program is limited to one afternoon for six (6) weeks. They learn about crime scene investigation, the dangers of alcohol and drugs, and see police dogs in action. Twenty-four adolescents participate in these learning and fun activities each year.

For more information about these and other Sioux City Police Department Programs link to or call 712-279-6440.