CIRTT agreement renewed for another year

Collaborations between three Central Iowa law enforcement agencies will continue following the Jasper County Board of Supervisors’ approval of the 2021-22 Central Iowa Regional Tactical Team agreement.

During the Jasper County Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 7, the board heard from Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty about his department’s ongoing tactical team agreement.

CIRTT is made up of officers from three different law enforcement agencies: Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Pella Police Department and Grinnell Police Department. The agreement between the three agencies was originally passed by the board in 2019.

The agreement between the three entities serves not only as a way to spread the cost of the unit out amongst several different departments, but also helps to increase the number of CIRTT-trained officers available to all three departments.

Each department who sends officers to work with CIRTT pay for their own staff’s training, so agreeing to work together to create a highly skilled, infrequently used unit has helped spread the cost of the team.

To become a member of the team, officers have to apply, be interviewed and go through a series of physical tests, which all determine the officer’s readiness and ability to work in high stress situations.

“It can be very difficult for smaller agencies such as ours here in Jasper (County) to have enough qualified officers to make up a full team. So we decided that combining our three departments would help us form a team far more easily,” Halferty said.

The CIRTT is used infrequently, and is usually only called upon during large police call outs or other similar events.

“This agreement is a great enhancement towards our county’s public safety,” Jasper County Supervisor Doug Cupples said. “It’s a great concept. So if something happens we will have the support we need.”

The board unanimously approved the agreement.

In other business the board of supervisors:

• Appointed former Jasper County Supervisor Denny Stevenson to the Jasper County Board of Compensation, which determines the pay of Jasper County’s elected officials.

• Approved the hiring of Kristin Carley as a driver’s license examiners for the treasurer’s office. Carley was chosen out of 26 different applicants and will begin work on Dec. 20. Carley has been hired at the pay rate of $18.45/hr.

• Approved the hiring of Todd Decker as a deputy sheriff for the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Decker will begin work on Dec. 20 and has been hired at the pay rate of $27.60/hr. Decker will be replacing a deputy who will is transferring to work as a school resource officer in the Lynnville-Sully School District.

• Renewed the liquor license of the Fore Seasons Golf Bar.

Contact Abby Knipfel at 641-792-4687 ext. 6531 or aknipfel@shawmedia.com