Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 80.15 (2026)

Examination — oath — probation — discipline — dismissal

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. An applicant to be a peace officer in the department shall not be appointed as a peace officer until the applicant has passed a satisfactory physical and mental examination. In addition, the applicant must be a citizen of the United States and be not less than twenty-two years of age. However, an applicant applying for assignment to provide protection and security for persons and property on the grounds of the state capitol complex or a peace

Tue Dec 09 22:30:14 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 80 (67, 0) §80.15, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 8\n\nofficer candidate shall not be less than eighteen years of age. The mental examination shall be conducted under the direction or supervision of the commissioner and may be oral or written or both. An applicant shall take an oath on becoming a peace officer of the department, to uphold the laws and Constitution of the United States and Constitution of the State of Iowa. 2. During the period of twelve months after appointment, a peace officer of the department is subject to dismissal at the will of the commissioner. After the twelve months’ service, a peace officer of the department, who was appointed after having passed the examinations, is not subject to dismissal, suspension, disciplinary demotion, or other disciplinary action resulting in the loss of pay unless charges have been filed with the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing and a hearing held by the employment appeal board created by section 10A.601, if requested by the peace officer, at which the peace officer has an opportunity to present a defense to the charges. The decision of the appeal board is final, subject to the right of judicial review in accordance with the terms of the Iowa administrative procedure Act, chapter 17A. However, these procedures as to dismissal, suspension, demotion, or other discipline do not apply to a peace officer who is covered by a collective bargaining agreement which provides otherwise, and do not apply to the demotion of a division head to the rank which the division head held at the time of appointment as division head, if any. A division head who is demoted has the right to return to the rank which the division head held at the time of appointment as division head, if any. 3. All rules, except employment provisions negotiated pursuant to chapter 20, regarding the enlistment, appointment, and employment affecting the personnel of the department shall be established by the commissioner in consultation with the director of the department of administrative services, subject to approval by the governor. [C27, 31, §5017-a1; C35, §5018-g3, -g5; C39, §1225.19; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §80.15] 86 Acts, ch 1245, §241; 88 Acts, ch 1235, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1074, §7; 2003 Acts, ch 44, §114; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286; 2005 Acts, ch 35, §11; 2020 Acts, ch 1062, §20; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1738 Referred to in §20.3, 80.25A, 97A.1, 97A.3

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1976–2023 · leading case: Larry R. Hedlund v. State of Iowa, 930 N.W.2d 707 (Iowa 2019).

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Larry R. Hedlund v. State of Iowa, 930 N.W.2d 707 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 56× “See Iowa Code § 80.15 . 4Hedlund subsequently amended his petition to include the claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and age discrimination.”

Larry R. Hedlund v. State of Iowa K. Brian London, Comm'r of the Iowa Dep't of Pub. Saf., Individually Charis M. Paulson, Dir., Div. of Crim. Investigation, Individually Gerard F. Meyers, Assistant Dir., Div. of Crim. Investigation, Individually & Terry E. Branstad, Individually, 875 N.W.2d 720 (Iowa 2016). · cites it 22× “” Iowa Code § 80.15 . He contends that this is a “new.”

Worthington v. Kenkel, 684 N.W.2d 228 (Iowa 2004). · cites it 12× “The district court, exercising its equitable powers, dismissed the petition after determining appellant had an adequate remedy at law under section 80.15. Upon our review, we reverse the district court order and remand the case for further proceedings.”

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 v. State of Iowa & Iowa Pub. Emp. Relations Bd., 928 N.W.2d 21 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 4× “A member, except a non-peace officer member, of the division of state patrol, narcotics enforcement, state fire marshal, or criminal investigation, including but not limited to a gaming enforcement officer, who has been duly appointed by the department of public safety in…”

Joseph Walsh v. Teresa Wahlert & the State of Iowa, 913 N.W.2d 517 (Iowa 2018). · cites it 4× “However, the employee also had a remedy under Iowa Code section 80.15, which provided that public employees were entitled to an administrative hearing before taking disciplinary actions resulting in loss of pay.”

Foley v. Connelie, 435 U.S. 291 (1978). “1, §4-7 (1976); Iowa Code § 80.15 (1977); Kan. Stat. Ann.”

Foley v. Connelie, 419 F. Supp. 889 (S.D.N.Y. 1976). · cites it 2× “(47-848)-1 (1967); Iowa Code Ann. § 80.15 (1949); Kan.Stat.Ann.”

Theodore Patrick Wright v. State of Iowa & Dep't of Pub. Saf. (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 26× “Iowa Code § 80.15 . A request for a hearing, also called an appeal, must be filed within thirty days after the notice of intent to dismiss has been filed with the EAB.”

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 v. State of Iowa & Iowa Pub. Emp. Relations Bd. (Iowa 2019). · cites it 2× “A member, except a non-peace officer member, of the division of state patrol, narcotics enforcement, state fire marshal, or criminal investigation, including but not limited to a gaming enforcement officer, who has been duly appointed by the department of public safety in…”

City Of Ames v. Iowa Pub. Emp. Relations Bd. & Int'l Union of Operating Engineers, Local 234 (Iowa 2023). · cites it 2× “A member, except a non-peace officer member, of the division of state patrol, narcotics enforcement, state fire marshal, or criminal investigation, including but not limited to a gaming enforcement officer, who has been duly appointed by the department of public safety in…”

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