West Des Moines Chooses Des Moines Lieutenant As Next Police Chief: UPDATED

WEST DES MOINES, IA — Des Moines Police Lt. Chris Scott, with 19 years of experience in law enforcement, was chosen today as West Des Moines' next police chief, City Manager Tom Hadden announced. He will begin Dec. 4.

Scott was one of four finalists named last week. He started his law enforcement career as a police officer in Indianola, then was hired as a senior patrol officer in Des Moines. He held the rank of sergeant in Des Moines in the areas of Records, Patrol, Executive Officer to the Assistant Chief of the Operations Division, and Public Information Officer. He was promoted to lieutenant and served as patrol commander and executive officer to the police chief before moving to the vice and narcotics unit.

“I’m confident Lieutenant Scott has the enthusiasm, knowledge and management skills we need in our police chief," Hadden said in his announcement.

Scott will lead a department of 69 sworn personnel and 12 civilians in West Des Moines. The department has an annual budget of $9.5 million, and in July was re-accredited for the eighth time by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, which sets the standard for professional excellence and policies and procedures that adhere to best practices in law enforcement.

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Scott has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Drake University. He also has attended the FBI National Academy. He will be paid $140,000 a year in West Des Moines.

The city has been without a permanent police chief since Shaun LaDue stepped down 11 months ago. During LaDue's four years as police chief, the department lost more than 30 percent of its officers and settled two sexual discrimination claims brought against the department. He ultimately resigned at the request of city leaders in the midst of a third sexual discrimination case that went to trial and resulted in a $1.9 million award to a former sergeant in the department, Tanya Zaglauer Schmell.

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EARLIER COVERAGE: 4 Finalists For Police Chief

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The city originally had 21 applicants for the position of police chief and chose 10 candidates to interview before narrowing its list of finalists. Other finalists for the position were Jeff Brinkley, police chief in Mason City; David Ness, a captain with the Des Moines Police Department; and Travis Ouverson, a captain with the West Des Moines Police Department.

Hadden said he was pleased with the quality of the applicants for the position. “We had an excellent group of individuals on our list of finalists, and I want to thank all the people who participated in the selection and recruitment process,” he said.

The city manager also praised Interim Police Chief Jim Barrett for his leadership during the transition, saying: “Jim’s personal skills and his relationships with others in the department allowed us to concentrate on the search for a new Chief while knowing the department was in good hands.”

Meet the Chief

Chris Scott will greet the public at an open house at 4 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 4200 Mills Civic Parkway, prior to the City Council meeting.

Photo provided by City of West Des Moines