DMPD’s summer patrol issued 3,500 tickets and 100 arrests to combat unsafe driving

DES MOINES, Iowa- Since April, the Des Moines Police Department assigned an extra six officers and one sergeant to patrol downtown.

Police say that years of complaints of unsafe driving in the Downtown Loop area are impacting the quality of life for residents in the center of Des Moines.

The Downtown Loop refers to the area around Grand Avenue and Locust Street, but the main concern is around the Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the Western Gateway Park. This area has undergone a huge transition in the last couple of decades, becoming a more walkable, commercial, and residential area.

Community complaints varied but included loud mufflers, blasting music, and squealing tires, all of which are amplified downtown because of the buildings.

“If you’ve ever gone through downtown in the middle of the day, you’ve noticed there’s burn out marks in the middle of intersections. In 2022, we’ve had a horrible street racing death where a child was killed. We don’t need to have blood on the streets to understand that these behaviors are dangerous,” said Des Moines Police Sergeant Paul Parizek.

Sometimes, this patrol group is moved to other sections of downtown like the Skate Park or the East Village, if needed, but they mainly stay in the Downtown Loop.

Since April, these officers have issued around 3500 tickets and made over 100 arrests.

“The numbers are what the numbers are, but the best gauge for how effective the unit has been is the feedback from the community. We’ve had nothing but positive comments on how it is more walkable [and] they feel safer down there. We see people using the Sculpture Park at night for the intended purpose. Not to just hang around and blast loud music and annoy people, but to actually get out there and enjoy the experience,” said Parizek.

The patrol squad is expected to stay in the Downtown Loop through September, but they can adjust the timeline if needed.

Construction on Grand Avenue is also helping to reduce speed. Grand Avenue through 15th Street has been turned into a two-way street, also helping reduce speed and making it harder to scoop the loop.

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