Molitor

One of Tama County’s law enforcement executives was recently chosen as the chair for a newly formed nationwide association.

Chief Jacob Molitor has been with the Meskwaki Nation Police Department since 2012 and was promoted to Chief of Police in May of 2019.

Molitor will serve as the Board of Governors Chair for the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEEA). The group’s mission is to promote law enforcement executives and agencies that serve small, rural & tribal communities across America.

“I am eager to represent the majority in law enforcement, which is made up of small, rural and tribal law agencies,” Molitor said. “I am especially excited to represent the Meskwaki Nation, tribal law enforcement, and Iowa law enforcement. I am looking forward to learning and sharing my knowledge, experience and ideas with the rest of the organization. This experience will definitely help our community. Together, we can do our part to make the world a safer place.”

The board which Molitor chairs will review policies, procedures, and practices related to the delivery of services from SRLEEA. They also act to approve position statements, certifications, training, branding and to advise on regional and national issues.

Molitor along with vice chair Honorable Sheriff Vanessa Crawford of Petersburg, Virginia will lead an 18 member board that is split into six geographic regions.

Molitor represents the Midwest region which covers 12 states from North Dakota to West Virginia.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than half of law enforcement departments in the U.S. have fewer than ten officers and approximately 70 percent of them serve communities of fewer than 10,000 population.

SRLEEA plans to act as an advocacy tool for smaller law enforcement departments that may struggle with funding for personnel, training, equipment and technology resources.

According to a statement listed on the SRLEEA website; small, rural and tribal law enforcement executives have been underrepresented and primarily been left out of national discussions regarding law enforcement needs and challenges.

SRLEEA hopes to provide a stronger voice for small agencies like each of the five law enforcement departments that exist in Tama County by developing leadership activities, special projects and public policy initiatives.