15 MINUTES: New West Des Moines Police Chief Says ‘We Can’t Arrest Our Way Out of Crime’

Editor’s Note: 15 MINUTES is a new West Des Moines Patch question-and-answer feature debuting in 2013. We’ll regularly sit down with public officials, business leaders, philanthropists, educators, parents – anyone who has something interesting to share. Would you like to nominate someone to be featured? Email beth.dalbey@patch.com.
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Since Police Chief Shaun LaDue assumed command of the West Des Moines Police Department on Sept. 17, his first impressions about the city – its commitment to well-managed growth and various services and causes that enhance quality of life – have only strengthened.

LaDue said the police department, which is made up of 64 uniformed officers and 15 civilians, is regarded as one of the best in Iowa.

“There’s a lot of talent in this department and they’re extremely committed to what they are doing,” he said. “My impression in the short time I have been here is they’re looking for a defined direction of where they’re going. As the quarterback, it’s my job to define that play.”

In an interview with Patch, the new chief shared more of his impressions from his first three months on the job.

Q: West Des Moines is by many accounts one of Iowa’s most successful cities. Are there special challenges that go along with growth?

A: Because West Des Moines is looked at by so many other surrounding communities as a strong leader, the expectations are very high – which is good. That’s what you learn first from the outside is how incredibly strong the strong the services are. The risk is that as we look at customer-satisfaction rankings in the low 90s, can we reach that bar with new leadership? If we determine in an assessment that there are some things we could be doing more effectively, there are risks of falling below that as a result of trying to better service.

We also need to be more proactive rather than reactive. If demands increase too quickly, do we risk being reactive. We can’t arrest our way out of crime.

Q: Is the department adequately staffed?

A: This city is 47 square miles and that presents a number of challenges for public safety, for example in response times. Our 2012 population was 61,570, but in the daytime, it swells to 120,000 – it doubles.

We’re not horribly behind, but looking at the future, we’re about eight to 12 officers short based on national criteria.

In my short time here, I’ve had conversations with city management and the council, and they’ve given me every reason to believe their commitment to the safety and growing the police department to maintain that.

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Q: What crimes are committed most frequently in West Des Moines?

A: Thefts out of motor vehicles, burglaries, damage to property, drinking and driving – we’re dealing with all these issues. Can we deal with things that should be our priority? We can right now, but as one variable changes – Wells Fargo sees great opportunity opportunity, and we want them here – but as people in public safety, we’ve got to be looking at demands on our service to make sure we grow with it. That runs parallel with opportunities. It’s cause and effect.

Q: What crimes are growing?

A: Theft and misuse of prescription drugs. People are taking the drugs of others in home burglaries and breaking into a motor vehicle. There are a lot of crimes surrounding the theft of drugs, and it’s a trend throughout the Midwest.

Q: What’s the significance of the sign behind your desk with the Winston Churchill quote “Never, never, never give up”?

A: I’ve found that to be the one thing that keeps me going, whether the obstacle is personal or professional. Life and work can throw curve balls, and it’s kept me going even in the toughest times.

Q: If people could understand one thing about you, what would it be?

A: As a person, I would want them to know that I am very caring and compassionate. As a professional, I would want them to know that I believe very strongly in people’s professional development and I work hard to make certain that I always leave something better than I found it. My commitment to that is second to none.

Q. What do you hope your legacy will be at the West Des Moines Police Department?

A: That we’ll continue down the path of the West Des Moines Police Department being the agency that everybody is striving to reach – by their strong work ethic and their ability to demonstrate professionalism beyond all others. This is a department of extreme integrity.

I hope to continue that with a strong philosophy of ‘every officer is a leader.’ Oftentimes, because of their quasi-military structure, police departments are looked as having only one leader.

The only way we succeed is if everyone steps up.

Q: How do you do that with an arbitrary structure of hierarchy?

A: Through intense efforts to develop people, to empower them and give them the autonomy to make decisions and be innovative in doing so. We’re all working toward that common goal and that common mission.

People want to lead. They just need the authority to do so.

Q: Besides not committing crimes, what can citizens do to help officers do their jobs?

A: When you see something that’s out of place, call and let us know. People think, “Oh, somebody else will call,” but it’s difficult for us to affect something if we don’t know what’s going on. Citizens are such an integral part of communication and, working together, we can make this the safest community possible.

What makes that so hard is that this community draws in so many people for employment, but they don’t necessarily have the same vested interests we as citizens have. So we have to work that much harder to communicate things that we see as concerning.

Q: What has surprised you the most about West Des Moines?

A: For the size of this city, everybody knows everybody and everybody is connected to the next person down the line. Although it’s a big city, it has the atmosphere of a much smaller community.

Also as part of this interview, Patch reported: