Charles City native becomes reserve police officer

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

Dustin Haberkorn is the newest addition to the Charles City Police Department, but he isn’t new to Charles City.

Haberkorn was born and raised in Charles City and went through school here as well.

Several of the current members of the Charles City Police Department grew up with Haberkorn and know him.

“It’s always something I’ve kind of had an interest in,” Haberkorn said. “It’s something I had considered as a career back in high school. I actually did a ride-along for a career day once with them.”

He’s been at the Police Department since the first part of March. Haberkorn gets sworn in on April 17.

Growing up in Charles City, Haberkorn wanted to be a police officer, but circumstances of life made him need an income immediately, and Pepsico had a job waiting for him, he said.

“I needed a full-time career right away,” Harberkorn said.

Haberkorn worked with Pepsico for 10 years. After working for Pepsico he stayed in sales but switched companies and went to Innovative Ag Services out of Elma three years ago.

He saw online that the Charles City Police Department was looking for reserve officers, so Haberkorn decided to apply.

Throughout all the different jobs, Haberkorn has stayed in Charles City.

He is still working as a sale agronomist for Innovative Ag Services while working as a reserve officer in Charles City.

Working a full-time job and being a reserve police officer haven’t created an issues yet, but in the future the agriculture business will require him to not be as active during planting season.

“That’s probably going to be one of the biggest challenges, a couple months in the spring time when we’re very, very busy in the ag industry,” Haberkorn said.

As a reserve officer Haberkorn will be on patrol a couple of weekends a month, helping out with city functions during parades and RAGBRAI when it comes, he said.

“I take pride in the work,” Haberkorn said. “There’s a great bunch of guys on the force. The community should be proud of what they have.”

Charles City has been a great place for Haberkorn to grow up, he said. He has children that are currently going through the school system.

“I think it’s a very safe and continuing progressive community,” Haberkorn said. “Its got good opportunities for the future.”

Being a full-time police officer is still an option for Haberkorn, and something he has considered with his wife for the future.

“At this point in time it does not fit,” Haberkorn said. “Things can always change.”

Haberkorn met his wife in Charles City while working at Pepsico, he said.

After being sworn in Haberkorn will begin going to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy on the weekends, he said. He’ll have six weekend classes and tests that he’ll have to do.

Since last September Haberkorn has been going on at least two ride-alongs a month to prepare for the position, he said.

“It’s been an ongoing process,” Haberkorn said.