Volume 19 | November 2019
Cedar Rapids Police Department
Monthly News and Information
Welcome to the Official Monthly Newsletter of the Cedar Rapids Police Department. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and continue to make Cedar Rapids a safe place to live, work, or visit.
Community Engagement and News
Thank you for the opportunity to connect with you through several activities and events over the past month. Here are highlights of a few of those events, along with some news and information.
Police Officer Applications Accepted through January 9, 2020
The Cedar Rapids Police Department, which has achieved full advanced accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, is accepting applications for the position of Police Officer.
If you are interested in joining the Police Department’s mission to actively involve everyone in a team effort to serve, protect, and prevent crime and disorder, as well as provide a safe and secure community in an effective and efficient manner, you are encouraged to apply. Police Officer positions are full-time and offer an opportunity to serve the community.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department is taking applications from Friday, November 1, 2019 through Thursday, January 9, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. Applications can be accessed by visiting the Cedar Rapids Police website. There are computers available at both Cedar Rapids libraries and one computer available at the Cedar Rapids Police Department for those interested in applying who do not have access to a computer.

The application and all documents must be received by the Cedar Rapids Police Department no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2020. No exceptions will be made.
Cedar Rapids Police Officers Give Back to the Community
The Cedar Rapids Police Protective Charity hopes to make this winter a little more bearable for students at Taylor Elementary. On Monday, November 25, 2019, all 248 students at Taylor Elementary, 720 7 th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, will receive new coats and boots. Also, Police Officers will be handing out a new hat, a pair of mittens, and several pairs of socks.
Cedar Rapids Police Officers engaged students at Jefferson High School, Kennedy High School, Metro High School, and Washington High School to collect the winter clothing items as part of a “Santa Cop” project.  To help support this program, please visit the Cedar Rapids Police Protective Charity website .
On November 6, several Police Department employees helped prepare meals for families at the Unity Point-St. Luke's Hospital Ronald McDonald Family Room. The police officers and police employees volunteer their time to help families who are going through a difficult time in their lives. The Family Room is located on the second floor of the Helen G. Nassif Center for Women's and Children's Health. Families with children receiving treatment in either the Newborn Intensive Care Unit or Pediatric Unit can utilize the 1,150 square foot Ronald McDonald Family Room.
The Police Department welcomed several high school students for a tour of the Police Station on November 13. The high school students are taking a college-level criminal justice course through the Kirkwood Community College Linn Regional Center. The instructor for the program is one of our Joint Communications telecommunications professionals, Jenna Miller. Several police officers and police employees work with area high schools and colleges to provide more information about opportunities in the law enforcement profession to prospective students and, perhaps, future employees.
Joe McCarville, Joint Communications Center Operations Manager, made a presentation on November 13 at Cottage Grove Place, 2115 1st Avenue SE. He talked about how our 25 telecommunications professionals handle 911 and non-emergency calls. Our dispatch staff handles calls for the Police Department,  Cedar Rapids Fire Department , Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control, and Eastern Iowa Airport Safety. All dispatchers are certified as emergency medical, police and fire dispatchers. They can provide pre-arrival medical instructions over the phone.
Nearly 600 Pounds of Medications Collected
On Saturday, October 26, citizens turned in 27.2 pounds of unused, unwanted, and/or expired medications at the Cedar Rapids Police Station. The Drug Take Back Day Event helped the Cedar Rapids Police Department turn in over 594.6 pounds of medications to the Drug Enforcement Administration for the past 6 months. There is a drug drop-off box in the vestibule of the Police Station, 505 1st Street SW, that can be accessed 24 hours a day. We appreciate the public's assistance keeping drugs from being stolen and misused, as well as keeping medications out of our grounds and waterways by dropping them off instead of throwing them away or flushing them.
'Tis the Season to Deter Package Theft
As the holiday season approaches and some of the busiest shopping days are upon us, many citizens will have packages delivered to their home.

Utilizing a combination of the following tips can reduce the likelihood of thieves stealing your packages:
  • Always track your shipment online. Some shipping companies utilize tracking services which can include features such as shipping status notifications and delivery scheduling. Check to see if these services are available.
  • Choose a shipping option that requires a signature for delivery. 
  • Schedule packages to arrive when you are home or arrange to ship your packages to a location where a friend, relative, trusted neighbor, or building superintendent can accept them on your behalf. 
  • Ship packages to your place of employment if your employer allows it. 
  • Request the delivery service hold your package for pick-up at their facility. 
  • Utilize deliveries to retailer provided lockers or carrier provided alternate drop points where you can go to pick up your item. 
  • Utilize free services that track packages, redirect packages to convenient locations for pick-up, and request vacation holds. 

The Police Department also recommends that you consider installing Wi-Fi enabled cameras that provide alerts, motion-sensor lighting, and/or package lock-boxes.

Upcoming Community Event
Coffee with a Cop - December 4
Please join us for Coffee with a Cop on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, from 9:00-10:30 a.m. at McDonald's, 1530 1st Avenue NE. Coffee with a Cop is a great opportunity for both police officers and community members! Police officers, outside of a crisis situation, can chat with residents in the neighborhoods they serve. Community members get access and an opportunity for distraction-free conversations with police officers.
Cedar Rapids Police Department Community Outreach Division | 319-286-5425 | Email | Website