Law Enforcement Training

Drake University Continuing Education and Professional Development has offered training to Iowa law enforcement agencies for over seven years. Below is a list of the current learning opportunities provided to the Iowa law enforcement community. 

Implicit Bias Training

Our two-hour implicit bias workshop for law enforcement guides officers in tuning into the elements of their own culture, after which they will be exposed to their own implicit bias and guided down a path of recognizing the implications of those biases. As part of this training, officers develop an action plan to mitigate the implicit biases that we all have. Don't hesitate to contact Chuck Sengstock if you are interested in more information or would like to schedule this training for your agency.

Iowa Law Enforcement Agencies that have Received our Two-Hour Implicit Bias Training

• Cedar Falls Public Safety
• Des Moines Police Department
• Urbandale Police Department
• West Des Moines Police Department
• Windsor Heights Police Department

Implicit Bias Training Opportunities for Iowa Law Enforcement Agencies Specific to 80B.11G, Annual training — De-escalation Techniques and Prevention of Bias

Fareway Stores, Inc., Creative Visions Human Development Institute, the Mason City Police Department, and Drake University have assisted the Iowa law enforcement community in meeting the new training requirements under Iowa law (80B.11G). At this time, we do not have any training sessions scheduled. Please contact Chuck.sengstock@drake.edu if you have questions!

Session Dates and Locations

• Check back for information regarding our future plans.

Iowa Law Enforcement Agencies that have sent officers to one or more of our sessions

1. Adel Police Department
2. Albia Police Department
3. Altoona Police Department
4. Aplington Police Department
5. Boone Police Department
6. Benton County Sheriff's Office
7. Cedar Rapids Police Department
8. Charles City Police Department
9. City of Clive Police Department
10. Clear Lake Police Department
11. Gowrie Police Department
12. Greenfield Police Department
13. Grinnell Police Department
14. Hudson Police Department
15. Humboldt County Sheriff's Office
16. Knoxville Police Department
17. Manning Police Department
18. Marion County Sheriff's Office
19. Marshalltown Police Department
20. Mason City Police Department
21. Mitchellville Police Department
22. Nevada Public Safety Department
23. Newton Police Department
24. Nora Springs Police Department
25. Norwalk Police Department
26. Pleasantville Police Department
27. Polk County Sheriff's Office
28. St. Ansgar Police Department
29. Sigourney Police Department

Participant Testimonials

• “Very good information, relevant and presented in a professional way.”
• “The emphasis on biases from all people and communication, open-mindedness, understanding, will contribute to improve relationships and solving problems.”
• “This content was relevant and engaging. It forced me to take a strong look at myself and how my feelings/bias get in the way of policing.”
• “This training was well delivered and informational. I enjoyed that the material was in relation to law enforcement and what is happening in today’s society.”

Our Past Presenters

Our presenters are Ako Abdul Samad, Iowa State Representative from the 35th District, Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services at Drake University, and Chief Jeff Brinkley of the Mason City Police Department.

Representative Ako Abdul-Samad serves on the Iowa House Administration and Rules, Education, Human Resources, and Public Safety committees. He is the founder and CEO of Creative Visions Human Development Institute, a nonprofit organization in Des Moines.

Scott Law is a well-respected member of the law enforcement community and presents on a wide range of topics, including; Active Shooter Training, Violence in the Workplace, and Implicit Bias. Before he arrived at Drake, Scott worked in law enforcement for the state university of New York (SUNY).

Jeff Brinkley is the Chief of Police in Mason City. Chief Brinkley is also an adjunct professor at Iowa State University, and Co-Founder of Brinkley, Clary & Thomas Consulting, LLC. 

Drake University receives the 2020 Impact Award from the United States Distance Learning Association

Drake University was honored to receive the 2020 Impact Award from the United States Distance Learning Association for its work with the Des Moines Regional Police Academy. This award is a recognition of an ongoing relationship between the Des Moines Police Department and Drake University over the last four years.

Every new cadet that enters the Des Moines Regional Police Academy must take Drake University's blended Cultural Awareness training. This training provides an opportunity to extend the cadets' knowledge of various cultures and impact their own implicit biases. By providing this forum for the cadets to explore their own cultures and understand who they are, they are more open to recognizing and willing to respect the cultures of those they serve. This results in safer and more effective interactions for all.

This course and our partnership with the Des Moines Police Department not only align with our mission, but it also makes Drake University visible and valuable to those that will be protecting it and keeping it safe for years to come. 

For additional information, please contact Chuck Sengstock, Director, Continuing Education and Professional Development, at 515-271-2184 or chuck.sengstock@drake.edu.