The Jefferson Police Department recently improved its ranks.

The City Council approved hiring Zach Barden at their August 22nd meeting to be the newest police officer. The 2015 Roland-Story High School graduate had a short stint at Target before being hired as a jailer with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office. Then he worked at Thiesens in Ames before he went to work for the Defense Contracting Activity with the US Department of Agriculture, where he heard about the open Jefferson Police position. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio when he decided he wanted a career in law enforcement.

“I got a job working at a jail when I was 20. Before that I didn’t have any desire to work in law enforcement. Then when I got the job at the jail I realized how much the deputies and the police departments did to help their communities. I want to help people and make that my career.” 

Barden shares his thoughts on the uniqueness of having both the Jefferson Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office under the same roof.

“I think it’s pretty cool. I’ve never been at a department or seen a department that works PD (police department) and sheriff in the same building. I think it’s cool that we have that connection there. It allows us to be a lot more transparent with each other.”  

Barden started on Friday, August 25th with an annual salary of $55,220. He will attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in January to become a fully certified officer. With Barden being hired, the police department is now short two officers.