Members of the Atlantic Police Department’s Reserves Unit were honored Wednesday evening, during the Atlantic City Council meeting. Police Chief Dave Erickson gave a brief history of the Reserve Unit, which has been in operation since 1972.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson (Left), and members of the Police Reserves.

Erickson said “For many year the Atlantic Police Reserves have maintained a very active membership with the Iowa State Law Officers Association (ISRLOA), a statewide organization comprised of hundreds of Iowa Reserve Police Officers and Reserve Deputy Sheriffs. The Organization recently presented the Atlantic Unit with the Donald H. Mackaman Outstanding Unit Award for the second year in a row. It was also the seventh time the City’s Reserve Unit has won the award. The award, named for its founder, is given to units that go above and beyond the call of duty.

The Reserve Officers currently include Bob McHugh, Jeff Hackwell, Jake Karns, Cole Lowary, Ryan Barnholdt, Jarrad Cavin and Pastel Force.

Erickson said “The Atlantic Police Reserve has proven time and time again to be an asset to the Atlantic Police Department and most importantly, a safety asset to the citizens of Atlantic, Cass County and the State of Iowa.” The Chief said in 2017, the seven-to nine-member unit donated more than 1,648 hours of general service to the community and department. That breaks down to 1,107 hours of patrol, 244 1/2 hours of school security, 106 hours of documented training, nearly 136 hours of documented public service and 55 hours of firearms training, not including monthly meetings or Iowa Law Enforcement Academy certification training.

Those hours are predominantly volunteer, and are not individually compensated. That includes various community service projects, such as camp outs, Halloween programs, canned food drives and movie matinees. Christmas programs, the Family Night Out and other such endeavors throughout the years have also been handled by the Reserves.

Chief Erickson congratulated the Reserves for their time and dedication, and encouraged anyone wanting to join those officers, or who has questions about the Atlantic Police Department, the Police Reserves or the ISRLOA, to contact him, Sgt. Spencer Walton, or Officer Caleb Smith at the Atlantic P-D.