| Agencyname: | Des Moines Police Department |
| Abbreviation: | DMPD |
| Patch: | Des Moines Police Department Patch.png |
| Budget: | $74.2 million (2021) |
| Country: | United States |
| Divtype: | State |
| Divname: | Iowa |
| Subdivtype: | City |
| Subdivname: | Des Moines |
| Local: | Yes |
| Police: | Yes |
| Map: | Polk County Iowa Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Des Moines Highlighted.svg |
| Headquarters: | 25 East 1st Street Des Moines, Iowa |
| Sworn: | 376 |
| Unsworn: | 109 |
| Chief1name: | Dana Wingert |
| Chief1position: | Chief of Police |
| Stations: | 2 (Including traffic unit) |
| Vehicle1type: | Police cars |
| Website: | Des Moines Police Department |
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.[1]
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 19th 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.[2]
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.[3]
Department Arrest Statistics from 1900 to 1970 (* per 1,000 population)[4]
| Year | Public Disorder Arrests | Felony Arrests | Larceny Arrests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 67 | 1.15 | 3.23 | |
| 1910 | 53 | 0.82 | 2.95 | |
| 1920 | 14 | 0.64 | 1.81 | |
| 1930 | 16 | 0.69 | 1.45 | |
| 1940 | 27 | 3.17 | 10.64 | |
| 1950 | 22 | 3.15 | 8.82 | |
| 1960 | 21 | 6.76 | 18.34 | |
| 1970 | 25 | 11.48 | 35.86 |
The Des Moines Police Department consists of three separate divisions.[5]
In addition to the police department headquarters, the Des Moines Police Department also has a substation located at 1222 24th St, Des Moines, Iowa. The substation houses the Des Moines Police Department Traffic Unit.
See main article: article and 2016 shootings of Des Moines police officers. 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.[7] 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.” [8] The lone suspect,[9] Scott Michael Greene, was quickly identified and apprehended by the Dallas County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa State Patrol the same day.[10]
In the history of the Des Moines Police Department, 23 officers and 1 K9 unit have been killed in the line of duty.[11]
| Officer | Date of death | Cause of death | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Anthony David Beminio | Gunfire | ||
| Police Officer Susan Louise Farrell | Drunk driver | ||
| Police Officer Carlos Puente-Morales | Drunk driver | ||
| Police Officer Roger Ray Hildreth | Heart attack | ||
| Police Officer Sean Wissink | Automobile accident | ||
| Police Officer Dennis Earl Hill | Gunfire | ||
| Patrolman Brian Charles Melton | Gunfire | ||
| Patrolman James Emory Rodine | Gunfire (Accidental) | ||
| Captain Charles T. Andreano | Automobile accident | ||
| Patrolman George Wesley Schane | Gunfire (Accidental) | ||
| Captain Steven Tabor Howard | Gunfire | ||
| Sergeant Harry Linn Booton | Gunfire | ||
| Sergeant James Joshua Cowart | Gunfire | ||
| Sergeant Rupert L. Shepherd | Motorcycle accident | ||
| Patrolman Harry Ogilvie | Gunfire | ||
| Patrolman James A. Staggs | Vehicular assault | ||
| Patrolman Gerald D. Pickett | Motorcycle accident | ||
| Patrolman Ollie D. Thomas | Gunfire | ||
| Detective Cornelius J. McCarthy | Gunfire | ||
| Chief of Police Charles Chester Jackson | Gunfire | ||
| Officer George William Mattern | Gunfire | ||
| Detective Frank Delmege | Gunfire | ||
| Special Officer Edward H. "Elijah" Wishart | Gunfire | ||
| K9 Unit | Date of death | Cause of death | |
| K9 Harley | Heat exhaustion |
A list of Police of Chiefs for the Des Moines Police Department. As of August 16, 2023 there have been a total of 58 Chiefs of Police.[12] [13]
| Name | Period as Chief of Police | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. Youngerman | ||
| 2 | P. Bower | ||
| 3 | J. Youngerman | ||
| 4 | J. Harter | ||
| 5 | T. Hall | ||
| 6 | S. Noel | ||
| 7 | J.T. Moore | ||
| 8 | R. Hedge | ||
| 9 | L. Jones | ||
| 10 | Jester Hedge | ||
| 11 | A.N. Marsh | ||
| 12 | S. Noel | ||
| 13 | W. Lowry | ||
| 14 | S.H. Carson | ||
| 15 | F.M. Smith | ||
| 16 | S.H. Carson | ||
| 17 | M.T. Russell | ||
| 18 | W.M. Patchen | ||
| 19 | Adam Hafner | ||
| 20 | J.S. Davis | ||
| 21 | George Christ | ||
| 22 | J.H. Bryant | ||
| 23 | John Smith | ||
| 24 | A.H. Botkin | ||
| 25 | Adam Hafner | ||
| 26 | A.H. Botkin | ||
| 27 | Alfred Jarvis | ||
| 28 | Sol Stutsman | ||
| 29 | Fred Johnson | ||
| 30 | James W. Jones | ||
| 31 | William P. Hume | ||
| 32 | Ab Day | ||
| 33 | A.G. Miller | ||
| 34 | George Yeager | ||
| 35 | C.C. Jackson | ||
| 36 | M.J. Donoghue | ||
| 37 | Roscoe Daunders | ||
| 38 | John B. Hammond | ||
| 39 | James Cavender | ||
| 40 | Roy J. Chamberlain | ||
| 41 | Henry A. Alber | ||
| 42 | Floyd Hartzer | ||
| 43 | Tom R. Watson | ||
| 44 | Tom Petit | ||
| 45 | Joe Loehr | ||
| 46 | Floyd Hartzer | ||
| 47 | Victor T. Smith | ||
| 48 | Floyd Hartzer * | ||
| 49 | Lorin Miller | ||
| 50 | F.E. Mabee | ||
| 51 | Howard R. Eide | ||
| 52 | Vear V. Douglas | ||
| 53 | Wendell E. Nichols | ||
| 54 | Billie B. Wallace | ||
| 55 | William H. Moulder | ||
| 56 | William M. McCarthy | ||
| 57 | Judy Bradshaw | ||
| 58 | Dana Wingert |