Pella Police Department

09/02/2026

Congratulations, Senior Officer Hardman!

09/01/2026

Please join us in congratulating the following officers and communications specialists who are celebrating work anniversaries in September!
Captain Paul Haase, 24 years
Lieutenant Shawn Veenstra, 22 years
Communications Specialist Beth Hileman, 7 years
Sergeant Bryce Doane, 6 years
Thank you all for your continued dedicated work for the Pella Police Department!

09/01/2026

🎉 CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT, OFFICER HARDMAN! 🎉
After an incredible 30 years in law enforcement, including 26 years proudly serving with the Pella Police Department, Senior Officer Chad Hardman is officially retiring!
Throughout his career, Officer Hardman has served the Pella community with professionalism, commitment, and compassion. His years of service have made a lasting impact on our department, our community, and the many officers he has worked alongside.
Please join us in thanking Chad for three decades of dedicated service and congratulating him as he begins this exciting next chapter!
📅 Retirement Open House Wednesday, September 2
⏰ 5:00–6:00 PM
📍 Pella Police Department — 614 Main Street
Stop by, share your well wishes, and help us celebrate Senior Officer Chad Hardman!
Congratulations, Chad, and thank you for 30 years of service!

08/31/2026

The Pella Police Department engaged in the following activities during the week of August 23, 2026, to August 29, 2026:

Calls for Service 177
Traffic Citations 17
Traffic Warnings 53
Parking Tickets 3
Accidents 3
Arrests 4
Charges 4
Juvenile Referrals 0
Warrant Arrests 0

COMMUNICATION CENTER WEEKLY STATS
The Pella Police Department Communications Center engaged in the following activities during the week of August 23, 2026, to August 29, 2026:

Incoming Telephone Calls 238
Total Incoming 911 Calls 49

ARRESTS:

• On 08/23/26, a subject from Pella was charged with possession of controlled substance, ma*****na 1st offense. The subject was pretrial released with a court date.
• On 08/23/26, a subject from Pella was charged with possession of controlled substance, ma*****na 1st offense. The subject was pretrial released with a court date.
• On 08/27/26, a subject from Oskaloosa was charged with possession of controlled substance, ma*****na 1st offense. The subject was incarcerated.
• On 08/29/26, a subject from Pella was charged with operating while under the influence, 1st offense. The subject was released on bond.

08/31/2026

Please join us in wishing Communications Specialist Raegan Decious a happy birthday! Raegan joined the Pella PD earlier this year and has been working on completing her field training, jail school, and basic communications training. Raegan, thank you for joining the Pella PD, and we hope you have an amazing birthday!

08/28/2026

On Friday, August 28, 2026, at approximately 10:55 a.m., Pella High School received an anonymous call reporting a possible exterior bomb threat at Pella High School, located at 212 E. University Street in Pella.
The incident was dispatched as an active threat. The Pella Police Department’s School Resource Officer was already in the building when the call was received. Additional Pella Police officers arrived on scene in less than three minutes and immediately began assessing the situation. Officers quickly determined there was no active threat inside or outside of the school.
Out of an abundance of caution, Pella Schools were placed on “Secure” while Pella Police officers secured and searched the building and surrounding parking areas. Officers thoroughly checked the area, and no viable threat or suspicious device was located on school grounds.
Through a thorough investigation and coordination with our state and federal law enforcement partners, the Pella Police Department has determined that the call received by Pella High School was part of a broader swatting incident.
While the call has been determined to be a swatting incident, the public should understand that law enforcement and school officials must treat these reports as legitimate threats until they can be investigated and determined otherwise. The Pella Police Department and Pella Community Schools responded swiftly and immediately, with the safety of students, staff, and the entire community remaining our highest priority.
The Pella Police Department will continue to work with our state and federal partners as the investigation into the source of the call continues.
We understand that incidents such as this can cause concern and anxiety for students, staff, parents, and the community. The Pella Police Department is committed to working closely with Pella Community Schools and Pella Christian Schools, as well as our law enforcement and public safety partners, to maintain a safe environment for students and staff throughout our community.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the students and staff at Pella High School for their exemplary response and cooperation throughout the incident. Their calm and appropriate response allowed law enforcement and school personnel to quickly assess the situation and ensure the safety of everyone involved.
The safety of our students, staff, and community will always be our highest priority.

08/25/2026

📚✏️ BACK TO SCHOOL! 🚔

The kids aren’t the only ones starting a new school year! Yesterday was Officer Cal Wilner’s first day as our School Resource Officer—and his first day serving the students and staff of both Pella Community Schools and Pella Christian Schools! 👮‍♂️🎒

He’s got the badge, the uniform, the school ID… now he just needs to figure out where the staff lounge is. 😂

We’re excited to have Cal joining the school team and we hope the students and staff are looking forward to seeing him in the hallways, classrooms, lunchrooms, sporting events, and everywhere in between.

What a great first day for SRO Wilner! Have a great year! 🍎📓🚔

08/25/2026

The Pella Police Department engaged in the following activities during the week of August 16, 2026, to August 22, 2026:
Calls for Service 176
Traffic Citations 41
Traffic Warnings 68
Parking Tickets 1
Accidents 6
Arrests 5
Charges 8
Juvenile Referrals 1
Warrant Arrests 0

COMMUNICATION CENTER WEEKLY STATS
The Pella Police Department Communications Center engaged in the following activities during the week of August 16, 2026, to August 22, 2026:
Incoming Telephone Calls 257
Total Incoming 911 Calls 43

ARRESTS:
• On 08/17/26, a subject from Pella was charged with violation of a no-contact order. The subject was incarcerated.
• On 08/19/26, a subject from Nevada was charged with supplying alcohol to persons under legal age. The subject was incarcerated.
• On 08/22/26, a subject from Illinois was charged with possession of ma*****na, possession of controlled substance 1st offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was incarcerated.
• On 08/22/26, a subject from Waukee was charged with OWI 1st offense. The subject was incarcerated, then released on bond.

JUVENILE REFERRALS:
• On 08/22/26, a subject from Illinois was referred to juvenile court services for possession of a controlled substance 1st offense, possession of controlled substance (ma*****na) (1st offense), and possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was cited and released to a legal guardian.

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08/23/2026

Tomorrow is the first day of school in Pella!
As everyone gets back into the school-year routine, please plan ahead and allow a little extra time for drop-off and pick-up. Be patient in the lines and expect increased traffic around our schools—especially bikes and pedestrians.

Remember: when in doubt, stop for a school bus, and always stop when the stop sign is extended and the red lights are flashing.

Please slow down, stay alert, and watch for the students, families, buses, bikes, and pedestrians sharing the road.

Wishing all of our students, families, teachers, and staff a happy, healthy, and safe school year!