The Troopers have total discretion about when to give a teddy bear away. Examples of incidence where the bears will be given out are traffic accidents, delivery of death messages, spouse assault or abuse, sexual assault or abuse, illness or accidental injury, child custody pickup, child neglect, and the arrest of a child's parent. Many of these children have not had positive contacts with law enforcement officers in their daily lives. Trooper Teddy steps through the communication barriers and leaves behind memories of compassionate and caring law enforcement professionals.

Although the Iowa State Patrol hopes that the "Trooper Teddy" Bear program will instill confidence and trust in our uniformed personnel from both the children and their parents, it is important to note that the bears are not a public relations tool, but are given to console the child in cases of emotional trauma. This program also allows an outlet for Iowa State Patrol Troopers to show their concern for young victims of trauma.

The "Trooper Teddy" Bear program is sponsored by the Iowa State Troopers Association, which pays all the expenses for the bears. No tax dollars are ever used to supply these much appreciated teddy bears to Iowa's children who have suffered a traumatic experience. Bringing "Trooper Teddy" to Iowa was the idea of now retired Trooper J.J. Baker of Centerville.