Ames Today

Due to the push for police reform across the country, the City of Ames is discussing a plan to make improvements in areas such as recruiting, training and funding for the Ames Police Department.

"I am confident that our officers are some of the best you will find, and I am profoundly proud of all of them,” Ames police commander Geoff Huff told KCCI News. “I know they believe in continuous improvement and they also know they are not perfect."

A diversity, equity and inclusion full-time coordinator for 2021 for all services in Ames is being sought after in the proposal.

Banning chokeholds and tear gas and adding de-escalation training is another highlight in the proposed terms.

"We want officers to use nonviolent strategies and techniques to decrease intensity of a situation, improve decision making, communication (and) reduce need for force,” Huff said.

Prohibiting racial profiling, bias and adding a citizen police committee to review current policy is suggested. Adding an outside source to handle incidents of bias and examining traffic stops to examine if racial profiling exists is included in the report.

"If you're going to accomplish what we want from our police department we have to share information with our citizens,” Ames City Manager Steve Schainker said.

No decisions were made at the meeting but could be voted on soon.