Des Moines Police Department (Iowa)

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 1910-1920, 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 1900-1970 (* per 1,000 population)[4]

The Des Moines Police Department consists of three separate divisions.[5]

• Administrative Services Division
• Operations 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.[6]
• 

  Des Moines Police Department Bomb Squad
  Investigations Division
  • The division consists of the Detective Bureau.

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.

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]

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]

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