Jeff Sitzmann: How can he help Cedar Falls?

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA - Jeff Sitzmann had a long day of interviews on Oct. 11, 2022. His day
started at 8 A.M. with an interview with Cedar Falls department directors. Shortly after at 9:30
A.M., Sitzmann met with law enforcement from surrounding areas. He got back to it in the
afternoon with an interview at 2 P.M. with the local union and 3:30 P.M. with public safety
supervisors. Sitzmann ended his day with a public meet and greet at 6 P.M.

Sitzmann’s schedule is packed full of interviews because he is one of the final candidates for the
new Cedar Falls Police Chief. Sitzmann is currently up against interim police chief, Mark
Howard.

Sitzmann has had a long career in the Cedar Falls Police Department beginning in 1996. He was
promoted to Lieutenant in 2003 and then to Captain in 2008. Sitzmann has accomplished a lot
during his career, winning officer of the year in 1998 and being the RJ Voss Award recipient in
2006.

Building a team that trusts and relies on each other is how Sitzmann leads his teams. “Knowing
your team members on a personal and professional level you’re able to understand and help relay
the goals of the organization to them,” said Sitzmann. “I’m very much focused on the team
effort.”

Sitzmann is active in the community, having a prior connection with almost everybody at the
Q&A session. He has three sons involved in sports and is an avid fisher. “I really think one of the
hidden gems here in Cedar Falls is our river.” Sitzmann comes from a big family with 11
brothers and sisters, which can explain his team leadership mentality.

During the public Q&A, Sitzmann listed his goals if he is hired as the new police chief. “We’re
trying to provide the highest level of law enforcement service to our citizens,” he said. “We’re
always striving to get better. We’re always trying to find new ways to provide a better service.”

Sitzmann wants to expand recruitment to get more highly qualified applicants. “Right now law
enforcement throughout the country is really experiencing a decline in applications,” he said. “To
counter that we have to come up with really clever ways to recruit.” Sitzmann hopes that
changing the culture around being a police officer will help increase applicants in the future.

Sitzmann also wants to continue expanding public education programming in Cedar Falls.
According to Sitzmann, there was a lot of positive feedback for the citizen’s response to an
active shooter training. “Some of the ideas I have for continuing that type of training is …
education on Alzeimers and Dementia, the opioid epidemic that the country is facing, and mental
health awareness and mental health education,” said Sitzmann.

Before the Q&A started, Craig Bertie, the Director of Public Safety, spoke about how the new
chief has to be willing to collaborate with other departments. One of the goals Sitzmann talked
about was welcoming collaboration with outside agencies. “We can collaborate with a lot of
different agencies in Blackhawk county and throughout the state,” said Sitzmann. “I’ve kind of
been the lesion to many different departments since coming here to Cedar Falls.” Sitzmann plans
to continue collaboration efforts with outside agencies.

While the Sitzmann says the PSO model isn’t going anywhere, something he does want to
change is the patrol schedule. While it may be difficult to implement, it will be an opportunity to
recruit and retain officers. The current schedule is eight hours a day, six days a week. “We’re
finding that people don’t like that schedule working six days a week,” he said.

Sitzmann stressed the importance of citizens securing their weapons. There have been incidents
where guns are stolen from vehicles and then used in crimes across the country. “I’m
encouraging responsible gun ownership,” said Sitzmann. With theft on the rise and multiple
vehicles being stolen in the Cedar Valley recently, this is a message he wants to get out
immediately.

When asked what he can provide that his competitor can’t Sitzmann replied, “He has less
experience in the area of criminal investigation, narcotics investigation and tactical operations.”
Sitzmann’s long career in the Cedar Falls Police Department gives him an advantage over
Howard. “I’ve spent a lot more time in an administrative role; handling budgets, arranging
training, being the liaison to other departments,” said Sitzmann.

Sitzmann listed many ways he plans to help Cedar Falls if he is hired during the Q&A. While the
new police chief announcement is unknown, Cedar Falls has two great candidates to choose
from.