2 years ago I was arrested for shoplifting and public intoxication. I plead guilty and since Iowa currently doesn't expunge if you didn't get a differed judgement, it seems I'm stuck with these charges. Is it impossible for me to get into law enforcement?

It isn't impossible. I wouldn't hire you for quite some time. Two years isn't a long time. We always get a lot of applications when we hire lately. I wouldn't even consider you for at least another five years.

Probably impossible for at least a few years. Your chances might be better if you were a juvenile at the time. Also what you stole or the value of what you stole might make a difference. You could be automatically disqualified by a lot of departments right now but in a few years you might not be. But you still might not get hired very easy because competition will probably be tough. A lot of people won't have records.

Forget getting hired anytime soon!

I agree that you won't get hired soon, but don't give up if you really want to do law enforcement

Of course, if your shoplifting constituted a felony and you were convicted, you can't become a police officer.