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Community Relations Officer
The Urbandale Police Department uses various available resources to prevent crime, be involved with the community, and enhance public relations. The Community Relations Officer(s) assist in developing, organizing, and implementing community involvement activities and crime prevention programs targeted at reducing the opportunity for crime to occur.
The Community Relations Officer(s) works to establish liaisons within existing community organizations as well as assisting in establishing new community groups as needed.
Community Relations Officer(s) offer educational presentations to the community on a variety of topics; plan, coordinate and host community events including National Night Out and Trunk-or-Treat; communicate with the public through the use of various social media platforms; and instruct educational programs for both youth and adults including Citizens Police Academy, Culture of Integrity and Safety City.
The Community Relations Team Motto: OURS "Our Unity Represents Strength"
Officer Collin Ten Haken
Officer Ten Haken graduated from Northwestern College with a degree in Criminal Justice in 2017. Officer Ten Haken was hired by Urbandale in December of 2017. Officer Ten Haken spent around 4.5 years on night shift patrol, then moved to day shift patrol for a year until his current assignment of Community Relations Officer. During his career Officer Ten Haken has participated in many GTSB traffic projects, helped with various Support Services Division events including, National Night Out, Shop with a Cop, Trunk, or Treat. In his free time Officer Ten Haken loves to work on his yard, be outside with his family and travel.
Officer Meagan Cowden
Officer Cowden has been a certified Police Officer since 2008. Officer Cowden joined the Urbandale Police Department in 2017. Officer Cowden worked as a Patrol Officer from 2017 to 2022 when she moved to the Support Services Division and began her role as a Community Relations Officer. Officer Cowden is a Field Training Officer, a Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor, a R.A.D Instructor, and is a Crime Scene Investigator. Officer Cowden is also on the Peer Support Team and has been assigned to the Honor Guard. Officer Cowden has a bachelors degree in Criminology from the University of Northern Iowa. Officer Cowden enjoys spending time with her family in her free time and traveling.