Iowa troopers have vested interest in El Salvador National Police

L to R: Iowa State Patrol Col. Pat Hoye,
Division of Criminal Investigation Director John Quinn,
Story County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Office Capt. Barry Thomas,
ISP Capt. Mark Probst, and Nebraska Attorney General Inv. Pat Mason.

It’s not every day that troopers in the states get a chance to help their brother officers in another part of the world, but the Iowa Department of Public Safety was recently given just such an opportunity.

The Iowa DPS united with other law enforcement agencies in January to donate body armor to help protect the El Salvador National Police, mainly for protection in their struggle against gangs.

The DPS donated 156 bulletproof vests to the FBI National Academy Associates and the Nebraska Attorney General to aid in their efforts to more properly equip officers with the El Salvador National Police. Law enforcement in El Salvador is fighting the proliferation of gangs and gang violence in their country, often without body armor. Considering DPS members can no longer wear the vests because of expired warranties, deciding to donate the vests was a quick conclusion.

“It’s a great thing to be able to help other officers who are in need,” commented Col. Patrick J. Hoye of the Iowa State Patrol. “We can’t wear them any more for legal reasons, but hopefully there will be lives down in El Salvador that will be saved because the folks in the Midwest took the time to collect the retired equipment.”

An Omaha, Neb., FBI agent who was assigned to El Salvador saw the lack of resources with which their local officers were fighting gangs. He spread the word among U.S. police departments and got the ball rolling with assistance. Efforts to help protect law enforcement in El Salvador should have far-reaching benefits, including within the borders of the United States. In fact, El Salvador is the country of origin for one of the most violent gangs in operation today, MS 13, which has gang members in nearly all areas of the U.S.

The Iowa DPS also donated loose vest panels and vest carriers.

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