Hundreds participate in 'Back the Blue' march from Iowa Capitol to Des Moines Police Department

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday morning for a "Back the Blue" march from the Iowa Capitol to the Des Moines Police Department to express support for local and national law enforcement. 

Des Moines metro community members planned the march at 10 a.m. A few hundred participated, many wearing black, blue, and the national colors of red, white and blue. During the march to the police department, demonstrators held signs that read "we support our police," and "cops for Trump" and chanted "Back the blue!"

At the police department, the crowd chanted "Thank you, blue" as Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert stepped out of the building to give a speech.

"Wow," Wingert said."You don't know how much it means to us that you all showed up today ... We hear your thoughts and prayers." 

Wingert said the DMPD has some of the best law enforcement officers with character in fine form. He further stated that seeing all the faces surrounding the police department in support of law enforcement serves as continued inspiration for officers to put their badges on and protect the community daily.

A plaque was made in the shape of a police badge, with blue-and-black stripes. It read: "Des Moines Police Department, supported by those you protect."

Other speakers included Rick McIntosh, who is running for Polk County Sheriff, and his wife, Whitney Smith McIntosh.

Smith McIntosh, 42, of Altoona was one of the organizers of the event. She told the Register she comes from a family of military and police.

"I try to do everything I can to back the blue," she said. "I know that people support the police. You can support police and also support reform."

McIntosh acknowledged police brutality exists and that there needs to be reform within law enforcement agencies, but she said she does not believe there is a high percentage of police brutality.

Todd Suhr, a retired law enforcement officer, participated in the march and expressed a similar sentiment.

"We're supporting police, not supporting police brutality," said Suhr, 58, of Grimes. "The big thing is: Stop dehumanizing everybody. Stop dehumanizing police, stop dehumanizing everyone in general."

Suhr also said he does not believe there is a high percentage of police brutality, compared with the number of calls police receive every year.

There was no mention of Jacob Blake, George Floyd, or Breonna Taylor — three Black victims of police violence — all of whom sparked national and global outrage and protests throughout the summer.

In a screenshot of the private event, posted on a Des Moines police scanner Facebook group, organizers stated they anticipated counter-protesters. They wrote in the event description that they will "not give up (their) rights to assemble and show support of our (law enforcement officers) to some street thugs who hate our (law enforcement officers)."

Only one counter-protester showed up. Laura Fetter, 41, of Des Moines marched with a sign that read "Police should not be murdering people." 

"There's so much overwhelming work that needs to be done to reform police overall in this country," she told the Register. "I completely respect (the protesters') right to say what they want to say ... But I'm also going to be here to show I don't agree with that message."

Andrea Sahouri covers breaking news for the Des Moines Register. She can be contacted at asahouri@registermedia.com, on Twitter @andreamsahouri, or by phone 515-284-8247.

Melody Mercado covers the eastern Des Moines metro for the Register. Reach her at mmercado@registermedia.com or 515-284-8051.

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