Crime & Safety

West Des Moines Will Honor Retiring Police Chief

Police Chief Jack O'Donnell, who is ending a 43-year career in law enforcement, will be honored Jan. 31 with a public open house.

Police Chief Jack O’Donnell, who retires next month from a 43-year career in law enforcement, will be honored at an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 31 at West Des Moines City Hall, 4200 Mills Civic Pkwy.

Remarks will be made at 3 p.m.

City officials are conducting a national search for his replacement.

“Being the police chief is one of the hardest jobs in the city — maybe the hardest — so it’s very important to get this right,” City Manager Greg Sparks said when O'Donnell announced his retirement.

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O’Donnell joined the department as chief of police in November 1998, after retiring as deputy chief of the Omaha Police Department.

“It was a good move to a very good city and very good department,” O'Donnell told Patch last fall.

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