Downtown police squad shelved in Des Moines
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Courtesy of DSM police
Des Moines has disbanded its special downtown summery police squad, a budgetary move that leaves officers relying on overtime and targeted enforcement to manage unruly crowds during the warm season.
Why it matters: The squad had issued thousands of citations and was credited by police and downtown leaders with helping reduce traffic nuisances, loitering and other problems.
Driving the news: The concerns escalated after a May shooting that resulted in a teenager's death and, last weekend, when someone torched a couch that burned hot enough to damage the sidewalk outside the Krause Gateway Center.
- Officers responded by temporarily prohibiting nighttime parking around Gateway Park, limiting spots where crowds and cars had been lingering — potentially inconveniencing nearby businesses and law-abiding nightlife.
Catch up quick: The squad started in April 2024, reassigning six patrol officers and a sergeant to focus on nuisance behavior, traffic violations and late-night problems.
Zoom in: The city did not release a specific cost for the effort, but police say it required dedicating staff at a time when the department's resources were already stretched thin.
- The squad issued 2,925 citations and 631 warnings and made 129 arrests in just its first 10 weeks, and it was hailed by neighborhood leaders for helping control problems.
State of play: The department's overall operating budget will increase by 3.3% in the fiscal year starting next month, rising from about $89.3 million to $92.2 million.
Yes, but: The increase trails inflation and staffing and budget pressures, Sgt. Paul Parizek tells Axios.
- Iowa's new property tax limits are expected to affect the budget year starting in July 2027, and Des Moines' finance department has projected an almost $12 million shortfall that year.
Between the lines: Police are still targeting downtown enforcement this summer — just without the dedicated squad that once helped keep problems in check.
- They're using limited overtime and pulling some on-duty officers downtown when problems are expected, Parizek said.
What we're watching: Whether persistent problems could force tougher choices on downtown enforcement, staffing and city spending.