Top Four West Des Moines Police Chief Candidates will be Named Today

On Thursday, the West Des Moines Civil Service Commission will approve and release the names of the four finalists for the position of police chief.

City Manager Greg Sparks said the results will likely be announced around 9 a.m., or near the end of the Civil Service Commission meeting.

Sparks, along with several others, has been conducting a national search for a new police chief after Jack O'Donnell retired in February.

The city is looking for four qualities when choosing a police chief, Sparks said. Those include being a leader with vision, someone with strong teambuilding skills, a good disposition as someone who is a strong city ambassador, and a good fiscal manager.

"We're looking to take the department and build upon past successes," Sparks said.

The four finalists will be interviewed on July 20. Sparks said the commission hopes to make a job offer to the most promising candidate at the end of that day.