Des Moines Police Department (Iowa)


The Des Moines Police Department is the municipal police department for the city of Des Moines, Iowa. The department is the largest law enforcement agency in the state of Iowa.
WWW dmgov.org/Departments/Pol...

History

On January 21, 1896, the size of Des Moines increased significantly when state legislature granted the city a new charter allowing it to absorb the eight towns surrounding the city. As the size of the city increased, the need for public safety increased. In 1908 the city auditor issued an annual report of the city which stated appointed the Chief of Police. By the turn of the 20th century the police department was loosely structured and consisted of a patrol division and administration division. The patrol division consisted of patrol officers and detectives while the administration division consisted of jail staff.
The Des Moines Police Department saw a decrease in the number of public disorder arrests between 1910 and 1920, which is attributed to the fact that in 1911 patrol officers began patrolling in automobiles and were less likely to observe public disorder incidents.
Department Arrest Statistics from 1900 to 1970
YearPublic Disorder ArrestsFelony ArrestsLarceny Arrests
1900671.153.23
1910530.822.95
1920140.641.81
1930160.691.45
1940273.1710.64
1950223.158.82
1960216.7618.34
19702511.4835.86

Organizational structure

The Des Moines Police Department consists of three separate divisions.Administrative Services DivisionOperations Division
  • * The division consists of the Patrol Services Bureau and the Homeland Security Bureau. The Homeland Security Bureau includes Airport Security, Bomb Squad, Fusion Center, and Metro Special Tactics and Response.Investigations Division
  • * The division consists of the Detective Bureau.

Substation

In addition to the police department headquarters, the Des Moines Police Department also has a substation located at 1300 Scott Ave, Des Moines, Iowa. The substation houses the Des Moines Police Department Traffic Unit.

November 2016 shooting

On November 2, 2016, Des Moines Police Department Officer Sergeant Anthony Beminio and Urbandale Police Department Officer Justin Martin were killed in ambush-style shootings near Des Moines. The shooting received national attention as President Barack Obama described the killings as “shameful acts of violence," and continued on to say “Sgt. Anthony Beminio and Officer Justin Martin represented our best, most decent instincts as human beings — to serve our neighbors, to put ourselves in harm’s way for someone else.” The lone suspect, Scott Michael Greene, was quickly identified and apprehended by the Dallas County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa State Patrol the same day.

Fallen officers

In the history of the Des Moines Police Department, 23 officers and 1 K9 unit have been killed in the line of duty.
OfficerDate of deathCause of death
Sergeant Anthony David BeminioNovember 2, 2016Gunfire
Police Officer Susan Louise FarrellMarch 26, 2016Drunk driver
Police Officer Carlos Puente-MoralesMarch 26, 2016Drunk driver
Police Officer Roger Ray HildrethFebruary 21, 2008Heart attack
Police Officer Sean WissinkFebruary 11, 2007Automobile accident
Police Officer Dennis Earl HillAugust 28, 1977Gunfire
Patrolman Brian Charles MeltonApril 21, 1977Gunfire
Patrolman James Emory RodineAugust 13, 1968Gunfire
Captain Charles T. AndreanoJuly 30, 1964Automobile accident
Patrolman George Wesley SchaneMay 4, 1942Gunfire
Captain Steven Tabor HowardMarch 2, 1935Gunfire
Sergeant Harry Linn BootonDecember 11, 1932Gunfire
Sergeant James Joshua CowartDecember 7, 1931Gunfire
Sergeant Rupert L. ShepherdAugust 1, 1930Motorcycle accident
Patrolman Harry OgilvieJuly 12, 1930Gunfire
Patrolman James A. StaggsApril 20, 1928Vehicular assault
Patrolman Gerald D. PickettSeptember 24, 1925Motorcycle accident
Patrolman Ollie D. ThomasAugust 20, 1925Gunfire
Detective Cornelius J. McCarthySeptember 27, 1919Gunfire
Chief of Police Charles Chester JacksonDecember 16, 1918Gunfire
Officer George William MatternApril 12, 1918Gunfire
Detective Frank DelmegeSeptember 20, 1909Gunfire
Special Officer Edward H. "Elijah" WishartJuly 1, 1891Gunfire
K9 UnitDate of deathCause of death
K9 HarleyAugust 29, 2012Heat exhaustion

List of Des Moines Chiefs of Police

A list of Police of Chiefs for the Des Moines Police Department. As of October 17, 2024 there have been a total of 59 Chiefs of Police.
#NamePeriod as Chief of Police
1J. Youngerman
2P. Bower
3J. Youngerman
4J. Harter
5T. Hall
6S. Noel
7J.T. Moore
8R. Hedge
9L. Jones
10Jester Hedge
11A.N. Marsh
12S. Noel
13W. Lowry
14S.H. Carson
15F.M. Smith
16S.H. Carson
17M.T. Russell
18W.M. Patchen
19Adam Hafner
20J.S. Davis
21George Christ
22J.H. Bryant
23John Smith
24A.H. Botkin
25Adam Hafner
26A.H. Botkin
27Alfred Jarvis
28Sol Stutsman
29Fred Johnson
30James W. Jones
31William P. Hume
32Ab Day
33A.G. Miller
34George Yeager
35C.C. Jackson
36M.J. Donoghue
37Roscoe Daunders
38John B. Hammond
39James Cavender
40Roy J. Chamberlain
41Henry A. Alber
42Floyd Hartzer
43Tom R. Watson
44Tom Petit
45Joe Loehr
46Floyd Hartzer
47Victor T. Smith
48Floyd Hartzer *
49Lorin Miller
50F.E. Mabee
51Howard R. Eide
52Vear V. Douglas
53Wendell E. Nichols
54Billie B. Wallace
55William H. Moulder
56William M. McCarthy
57Judy Bradshaw
58Dana Wingert
59Michael McTaggart

*: Is labeled as "Assistant chief" on the list, there is no clear indication as to what that specifically means in context.