The Department of Public Safety is the law enforcement agency for the state of Iowa. Headquartered in the Public Safety Building located on the Capitol Complex at 215 East 7th Street in Des Moines, Iowa, and with 38 other facilities located around the State of Iowa, the Department of Public Safety employes more than 900 individuals, including over 600 sworn peace officers. The goal of the Department has remained constant since its inception: service to and protection of the people of Iowa. Reflecting this purpose is the current vision of the Department: "Excellence in Service and Protection All Ways".

Current Organization

The Department includes the following divisions:
	Administrative Services Division
	Division of Criminal Investigation
	Division of Narcotics Enforcement
	Fire Marshal Division
	State Patrol Division

and the following bureaus within the Office of the Commissioner:
	Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau
	Intelligence Bureau
	Plans, Research, and Training Bureau
	Professional Standards Bureau
	Public Information Bureau

History: Beginnings

The Department began operation on July 1, 1939 upon passage of Senate File 379 by the Iowa General Assembly. Included in the initial organization were several pre-existing governmetn units. These agencies were the Iowa State Fire Marshal, originally created in 1911; the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, created in 1921; and the Iowa Highway Patrol (Iowa State Patrol), created in 1935. The Act recognized the following divisions:

History: Evolution

Over the sixty-one years of its existence, significant organization changes have taken place in the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Among the highlights:

	The transfer of investigators from the Board of Pharmacy Examiners in 1970 led to the creation of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, which was later folded into the Division of Criminal Investigation and then again separated as the Division of Narcotics Enforcement in 1987.
	The state crime lab, the DCI Criminalistics Laboratory, was created in 1971.
	The Vice Enforcement Division, later combined into the Division of Criminal Investigation was created with the transfer of investigators from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission to the Department in 1972.
	In 1975, motor vehicle registration and inspection and driver licensing functions were moved from the Department to the newly-created Iowa Department of Transportation.
	In 1976, the Capitol Security Division was transferred from the Department of General Services to the Department of Public Safety.
	Also, in 1976, the Administrative Services Division was created.

Commissioner

The Act creating the Department also established the position of Commissioner of Public Safety. The person who occupies this post is the leader of the Department. The Commissioner is bestowed broad discretion to organize and manage the Department and its Divisions and Bureaus.

Originally, the Commissioner of Public Safety was appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for a four year term. At that time, the Commissioner could only be removed for cause. In the early 1970s, this provision was changed to mandate the Commissioner serves at the pleasure of the Governor. In 1986, the State Reorganization Act required all executive branch department heads be confirmed by the Iowa Senate. Senate confirmation is required upon initial appointment and every four years thereafter.

The Commissioner's annual salary was established in the 1939 Act at $4,000. The Commissioner was and still is barred from other remunerative activity while in office.

Commissioners of the Department

Karl W. Fisher, 1939-1944

R.B. Laird (Acting), 1943-1944

Fred L. Wilkins, 1945-1947

Alfred W. Kahl, 1947-1950

Pearl W. McMurray, 1950-1955

Clinton H. Moyer, 1955-1957

Russell L. Brown, 1957-1959

Donald L. Stratton, 1959-1961

Carl H. Pesch, 1961-1963

William F. Suppel, 1963-1966

Gene Needles, 1966-1967

Jack Fulton, 1967-1971

Michael Sellers, 1971-1973

Charles W. Larson, 1973-1979

William D. Miller, 1980-1983

Gene W. Shepard, 1983-1989

Paul H. Wieck II, 1990-1999

E.A. "Penny" Westfall, 1999-2002

Kevin W. Techau, 2002 - 2007

Eugene T. Meyer, 2007 - 2011

Larry L. Noble, 2011 - Present