Letter to the Editor: Police Calls for Service

Submitted by Daniel Banks, Hudson Chief of Police

Hudson Herold,

At last week’s City Council meeting, and subsequently in the Hudson Herald, it was brought to my attention that a Hudson resident expressed her expertise on the topic of “the county will take the calls” and on Hudson Police Department calls for service.

In order to provide clear and accurate information, I provided our City Leaders with a letter from Black Hawk County Sheriff Neff NOT supporting that statement, along with a record of Hudson Police Department Calls for Service since my employment began here. These documents are intended to ensure transparency and clarify the scope of our agency’s responsibilities.

If I may also note, the resident’s CFS data sheet does not include a number of essential services provided by the Hudson Police Department. These include business checks, extra attention request, vacation checks, traffic stops, assistance to other agencies, parking ticket enforcement, found animals (particularly dogs), fingerprinting services, and golf cart registration. These activities represent a significant portion of our workload and demonstrate the breadth of our commitment to the community.

In addition, my department has collected 15+ letters of support provided by local business owners and taxpayers, which express their endorsement of the Hudson Police Department and reaffirm the importance of maintaining 24/7 coverage for our community.

As the Chief of Police and the leader of the Hudson Police Department, over the past several months I have found myself dedicating more time to advocating for my department, my officers, and their safety—both physically and mentally. This advocacy is not only about protecting the well-being of our officers but also about safeguarding the overall safety, stability, and morale of our community. When our officers are supported and equipped to do their jobs effectively, the residents, businesses, and visitors of Hudson directly benefit from faster response times, consistent coverage, and higher-quality service.

Please review the attached material for additional context.