Capitol Notebook: Iowa criminal investigation official to head state’s school safety bureau

Additionally, the brand new 988 line for suicide prevention launches Saturday

DES MOINES — Don Schnitker, a particular agent within the Iowa Division of Prison Investigation’s main crimes unit has been tabbed to move the just lately created Iowa College Security Bureau.

The bureau is charged with analyzing methods to maintain Iowa’s colleges protected, together with from energetic shooter incidents. It was created by Gov. Kim Reynolds, who just lately infused the bureau with $100 million in federal pandemic reduction funding.

“Schnitker’s robust management abilities and intensive legislation enforcement expertise shall be extraordinarily useful for the bureau whereas using revolutionary expertise, offering coaching, and conducting intelligence monitoring,” Reynolds mentioned in a state public security division information launch. “I’m assured the Governor’s College Security Bureau shall be an awesome useful resource for our colleges and native legislation enforcement companions whereas serving to to guard our most valuable and worthwhile belongings — our kids.”

Schnitker has labored for the state prison investigation division for 17 years, and assisted within the creation of the Iowa Youngster Abduction Response Staff.

SUICIDE PREVENTION LINE: The 988 suicide prevention line launches Saturday, the Iowa Division of Well being and Human Providers introduced. The 988 line is a nationwide program overseen by the Federal Communications Fee.

Iowans who name or textual content 988 shall be instantly related to counselors skilled in disaster administration and de-escalation, and who can join Iowans to the companies and helps that they want, the state division mentioned.

“The nationwide launch of 988 coincides with the numerous work we’ve been doing right here in Iowa since I took workplace to boost and enhance our traditionally fragmented disaster response system,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds mentioned within the state well being division’s information launch. “Iowa households — all households — ought to have fast and easy accessibility to mandatory psychological and behavioral well being care assets after they want them, and 988 will function a centralized useful resource for Iowans to make the most of throughout their instances of want.”

The state well being division additionally highlighted the state program Your Life Iowa, which gives at any time free assist to anybody coping with psychological well being care considerations, suicidal ideas, substance abuse, or drawback playing.

JUDGE CONFIRMED: Choose Stephen Locher, of Des Moines, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to a lifetime appointment for as a federal choose within the Southern District of Iowa.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, mentioned Locher’s affirmation was “uncommon” unanimous approval from the total Senate.

“Choose Locher represents the most effective and brightest of our authorized neighborhood, and it was an honor to work with him all through his swift affirmation course of,” Grassley mentioned in a information launch. “Drawing on years of expertise in each civil and prison legislation, Choose Locher understands the correct position of a choose, and I’m assured he’ll implement the legislation as written.”

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, additionally added her reward and congratulations within the information launch.

Locher has been a U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose within the Southern District of Iowa since 2021, and beforehand he was an assistant U.S. Lawyer within the district workplace. Locher graduated from Harvard Regulation College and obtained his bachelor’s diploma from Notre Dame College.

GRASSLEY HONORED: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, acquired the Nationwide Corn Growers Affiliation’s President’s Award for his management and advocacy for corn growers and agriculture, the group introduced.

 Sen. Charles Grassley

“Sen. Grassley has spent his profession advocating on behalf of corn growers,” Chris Edgington, the Nationwide Corn Growers Affiliation president and a farmer from St. Ansgar mentioned in a information launch. “Whether or not it’s taking a stand on laws burdensome to farmers, advancing agricultural exports by commerce, or supporting laws that can lengthen entry to increased ethanol blends, we might not have secured the coverage successes we’ve got over time have been it not for the contributions of the senior senator from Iowa.”

Gazette Des Moines Bureau