The Mar-Mac Police Department is an entity of the Mar-Mac Unified Law Enforcement District, or commonly known as the Mar-Mac Police District, which encompasses the cities of Marquette and McGregor, in northeast Clayton County, Iowa. The Police District was created in December 1999 as a way to combine both law enforcement agencies into one affordable agency for both communities.
Prior to its creation, each city had its own department. Each department frequently relied upon each other for assistance and required many officers to police each individual community. Both cities saw that this was very inefficient and decided to disband the individual departments and create a “Police District.” To this date, it has been proven to be very successful and many smaller cities in Iowa inquire about how they too, can try this innovative change.
The Police Department is currently funded for three full-time officers and part-time/reserve officers on an as needed basis.
All officers are required to obtain law enforcement certification through the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). Once an officer obtains certification, the officer is certified by the State of Iowa with arrest powers throughout. In addition to the basic curriculum of the academy, officers are trained and certified in CPR and First Aid. Each patrol vehicle is equipped with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) in the event that someone collapses with sudden cardiac arrest.
All officers are members of the Clayton County Law Enforcement Association (CCLEA). CCLEA meets monthly to train and exchange information about criminal activity in the area. The Police District is also involved with the Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force and the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The Mar-Mac Police Department is a proactive agency. The Police Department participates in the annual Special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) and I-PLEDGE.
Iowa’s sTEP is a statewide participation by all law enforcement in Iowa in a cooperative “high visibility” traffic enforcement effort coordinated around a holiday. These events call for heightened traffic enforcement for all traffic violations with the main effort to raise awareness in safety belt use as the best means of protection in the case of a motor vehicle collision.
I-PLEDGE is a statewide program to reduce the illegal sales of tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products to minors and illegal possession of tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products by minors. The goal of I-PLEDGE is to increase voluntary compliance with the state’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws through education and enforcement, and prevent illegal sales of tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products by educating retailers and increasing awareness of changes in Iowa’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws.
The Police Department receives state funding to participate in both the “sTEP” and “I-PLEDGE” Programs.
