MCPD Mission
“The mission of the Mason City Police Department is to provide professional public service through partnerships with the community to improve the quality of life and maintain the public’s trust.”
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
Oath of Honor
Oath of Honor Defined
MCPD History
Photo: Town Marshall Owen
From February 1870 until April 1909 the city law officers in town were called the Marshall and the Deputy Marshall. Then on April 12th 1909 the department was officially organized into the present day police department. The 1909 five-man department has grown into the forty-nine officers of today, not including civilian employees. Since 1870 there have been approximately 275 police officers that have served the citizens of Mason City.
Photo: Mason City Police Department (Approx. 1909)
When the 1920’s arrived, the department was using automobiles, paddy wagons and motorcycles to answer calls. The department continued to use patrolmen on foot patrol and used a system of red lights located at various intersections. When a citizen call or there was a need for an officer to respond to a situation, the desk sergeant would turn the light on and the office would know to phone the station for his call.
In 1927, the department went to working three eight hour shifts and also implemented the Records and Identification Bureau. This new bureau implemented a new record keeping system that documented all calls for service and also documented our arrests with mug shots and fingerprints.
Photo: Mason City Police Department 1937
In the July of 1941 the police depart got its first radio. KQAE was on the air and for the first time squad cars on the street could communicate back and forth with the desk sergeant. This enabled a quicker response in answering calls by the police since the officer in the car would not have to find a phone to call the station. The use of the red light system and police call boxes was continued for the foot patrol officers as there were no hand held radios.
During World War II the police department had several officers called to duty and the city hired men to supplement the force. The new officers were called special policemen and they worked until 1946 at which time the regular officers were discharged from the service and they returned back to patrol. When the war ended the police department hired an additional ten men to bring the post war department strength up to 27 officers.
Photo: Mason City Police Department 1949 
The 1960’s saw the first use of portable hand held radios for foot patrol, and the city discontinued the use of the police call box and red light system. In 1962, the city hired its first meter maids. The use of the meter maids freed up patrolman who were assigned to parking meter duties. In the years that followed, the department hired civilian dispatchers to replace the desk sergeants. All these changes increased the number of officer’s on the street and made them more efficient.
Photo: Mason City Police Department 2008 
Now one hundred years after the police department was organized, the officers have Ford Police Interceptors instead of horses; they have in-car laptop computers with GPS in place of the red light system, and have Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistols instead of the Colt Detective Special revolvers. However, the one thing that hasn’t change in a hundred years is the police department still comes when the public calls and we still have a strong sense of pride and tradition just like in 1909.
MCPD HONOR GUARD
"NO GREATER DUTY,
NO GREATER HONOR"
The Honor Guard was established in 1993 to represent the Mason City Police department with pride, excellence, and dignity at police funerals, memorial services, parades, and other ceremonial occasions. With a great sense of respect, the M.C.P.D. Honor Guard will strive to provide a suitable display of the noble law enforcement traditions and heritage as a tribute to those who have served.
It is the purpose of the Honor Guard to:
- Function as an elite cadre of ceremonial "ambassadors in blue;"
- Render tribute and honor to our fallen brothers, sisters, and family members;
- Take pride in our law enforcement heritage, customs, traditions and courtesies while
passing them on to both our comrades and our community;
- Zealously guard the reputation of the team, our department, and law enforcement in all our
activities;
- Assist departments and locales throughout North Iowa in time of need;
- Properly display and show respect towards the colors we fly and the proud profession we
serve.
- Display the core values of strength, discipline and excellence.