Duties:

ATV Patrol Officers are temporary, summer employees of the IDNR. As a (temporary) law enforcement officer of the State of Iowa, this is a position of high responsibility. The ATVPO's primary duties are patrolling ATV parks and assigned areas by ATF and foot; secondarily, performing formal ATV operator education in accordance with the Department's guidelines; and lastly, acting as Water Patrol Officers, patrolling Iowa's lakes and rivers by patrol boat and foot as needed and available.

ATVPOs provide public assistance and safety education through personal contacts and by sometimes participating in the Department's educational programs.

Occasionally, the ATV Patrol Officer may be the first responder to the scene of an emergency situation such as an ATV accident. After assessing the situation and alerting other officers &/or agencies, the ATVPO would continue to assist investigating officers and rescue personnel.

ATVPOs must maintain their issued machines & vehicles, safety equipment & gear, and storage facilities.

A final component of the job is the completion of required administrative duties (such as activity reports, writing case information, filling out timesheets, filing citations, and machine useage records). This type of activity is usually done at the duty station; in some areas such as western Iowa, that station may be in a state park; in others such as a metropolitan area, it may be where the ATV is stored.

Work Schedule and Pay:

ATV Patrol Officers work a 40-hour work week, with two days off per week during the week. The exact schedule varies by location and is assigned by the Supervisor, but all ATV Patrol Officers work weekends (including all the holiday weekends of Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day) and often evenings, late nights, and in all types of weather.

Locations:

DUTY STATION	# OF POSSIBLE POSITIONS	QUARTERS AVAILABLE?
FORT DODGE AREA (based at North Twin Lake), (in Webster County) (NW IOWA)	1	YES
COUNCIL BLUFFS AREA (based at Lake Manawa), (in Pottawattamie County) (SW IOWA)	1	YES
WATERLOO AREA, (in Black Hawk County) (NE IOWA)	1	NO
MARSHALLTOWN/TAMA AREA, (in Marshall and Tama Counties) (C IOWA)	1	NO
ELY/CORALVILLE AREA, (based in Coralville), (in Johnson County) (SE IOWA)	1	YES
SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA (based at Lake Rathbun), (in Appanoose and Mahaska Counties) (SC IOWA)	1	YES

Equipment:
ATV Patrol Officers are issued the necessary equipment to perform their duties. They are issued all the required safety equipment for their machines, binoculars, ticket books, and a radio and cell phone for communicating with other DNR officers, other law enforcement agencies, and sometimes the riding public.

Personal equipment issued includes uniforms, a helmet, protective gloves, handcuffs and case, Code Books and pepper spray & carrier.

Training:

Before beginning patrol duties at their assigned areas, ATVPOs attend approximately 40 hours of formal training, usually held at Camp Dodge near Des Moines. While attending this training, lodging and meals are provided by the Department. This training is provided by the conservation officer instructor/trainers of the Bureau and by personnel from other state and local law enforcement agencies.

This training includes an intense introduction to defensive tactics, approach skills and tactics, communications, administrative responsibilities, and understanding, interpreting, and enforcing the Code of Iowa, especially in relation to ATVs.

Minimum Requirements: (see also the information sheet available to download)

Hiring:
To apply for these positions you must carefully follow a two-step application procedure (Note: this is a change from past years):