Des Moines Police

Des Moines Police As the largest and most urban law enforcement agency in the state, the Des Moines Police Department has a strong commitment to community policing.

We encourage our residents to help us address issues occurring in their neighborhoods and to participate in the resolution of their concerns. Our Neighborhood Based Service Delivery Program has been expanded, assigning detectives and Traffic Unit officers to neighborhoods to provide citizens with greater access to department resources.Our department consists of an authorized strength of 379 sworn

officers and 110 civilian support personnel. The department is organized into two divisions: the Operations Division and the Investigations Division. Both divisions are commanded by assistant chiefs who report directly to the Chief of Police.

Crimes Against Persons Section detectives are investigating the city's 14th homicide of 2026.On July 16, detectives init...
09/02/2026

Crimes Against Persons Section detectives are investigating the city's 14th homicide of 2026.

On July 16, detectives initiated an investigation after they were contacted by the Minneapolis, MN Police Department and informed of a death in their city potentially connected to an incident in Des Moines.

On July 14th, 26-year-old Dimitri Craig-Lee English was found deceased within his home. The preliminary investigation indicated that English had been involved in an altercation near the 200 block of Court Avenue during the early morning hours of July 5th. At some point following that, English returned to his home in Minneapolis.

The Hennepin County, MN Medical Examiners Office has now ruled that the manner of death is homicide.

Detectives continue to follow leads in this ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call 515-283-4864.

Additional information will be shared as it becomes available for release.

Sgt Paul Parizek

Tactical teams and the equipment they use are necessary and vital tools for some law enforcement tasks. They provide a s...
09/02/2026

Tactical teams and the equipment they use are necessary and vital tools for some law enforcement tasks. They provide a specialized response to situations with a high potential for violence such as high-risk arrest warrants and barricaded persons, as well as challenging rescue and recovery operations.

In Des Moines, the Metro Special Tactics And Response (STAR) Team provides those services. The team is part of the department’s Homeland Security Section, and includes the Entry Team, Marksman/Observer Team, Bomb Squad, Dive Team, WMD Team, and Crisis Negotiation Team.

The Homeland Security Section's mission is to protect the lives of Des Moines residents and visitors, as well as their property from natural or man-made disasters, and provide a variety of bomb, tactical, and planning and training services to agencies around the metro area.

National Police K-9 Day is celebrated annually on September 1st to honor the service and sacrifice of police dogs.Thank ...
09/01/2026

National Police K-9 Day is celebrated annually on September 1st to honor the service and sacrifice of police dogs.

Thank you to our four-legged friends, and to their partners who help them work their mission!

Des Moines Police Canine Foundation

The Polk County Extreme Temperature Plan will activate today, Aug. 31 at Noon. The plan will remain active through Satu...
08/31/2026

The Polk County Extreme Temperature Plan will activate today, Aug. 31 at Noon. The plan will remain active through Saturday, Sept. 5th.

Afternoon highs are expected to reach the mid 90's with heat indexes soaring towards 100 - 103 degrees.

Activation of the plan includes:

Access to area homeless shelters
Activation of cooling centers (including all Des Moines Public Library locations during open hours)
Free rides to these locations on DART buses

More detailed information and resources are available here:
https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/.../extreme-temperature.../

All in the impacted area are encouraged to check on family, friends, and neighbors, particularly those in these vulnerable populations:

Pregnant
Newborns
Small children
Elderly
Those with chronic illness

Everyone is at risk from the dangers of extreme heat, but these groups are more vulnerable than most.

Stay alert for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness

These extreme temperatures are also dangerous to pets. Stay alert for the signs of heat related illness in pets:
https://www.aspca.org/.../general.../hot-weather-safety-tips

IF YOU SEE A PERSON OR PET IN DISTRESS, CALL 911!

Here are this week’s mobile radar locations. Please drive safely!Monday:1800 Blk Fleur Dr1700 Blk Park Ave Tuesday:1800 ...
08/30/2026

Here are this week’s mobile radar locations. Please drive safely!

Monday:
1800 Blk Fleur Dr
1700 Blk Park Ave

Tuesday:
1800 Blk Fleur Dr
1700 Blk Park Ave

Wednesday:
1800 Blk Fleur Dr
1700 Blk Park Ave

Thursday:
4300 Blk Ingersoll Ave
4800 Blk Hickman Rd

Friday:
4300 Blk Ingersoll Ave
4800 Blk Hickman Rd


Speed trailer locations, Aug 31 - Sep 11:
3100 Blk ML King Jr Pkwy
2900 Blk 6th Ave

08/29/2026

Yesterday, we celebrated one of "headset heroes" as signed off after nearly four decades of service. Scotty is a living legend, and his calm voice, steady presence, and dedication made a difference in countless lives.

Thank you, Scotty! Enjoy retirement!

7 yr old Preston is fiercely fighting cancer and we were honored to spend a little time with him and his family this wee...
08/28/2026

7 yr old Preston is fiercely fighting cancer and we were honored to spend a little time with him and his family this week!

The Iron Warriors Public Safety Motorcycle Club invited us to join them as they delivered a $1,000 donation to help cover Preston’s medical expenses, and to share their support of Preston and his family.

In Des Moines, no one fights alone 💙

Yesterday, Tyler Pavlick was sentenced in Federal Courts for the horrendous crimes he committed against children in Des ...
08/27/2026

Yesterday, Tyler Pavlick was sentenced in Federal Courts for the horrendous crimes he committed against children in Des Moines and other central Iowa communities. That sentence wouldn’t have come without the partnerships we have with the United States Attorneys' Offices - Southern District of Iowa and the FBI - Omaha Field Office.

The work was carried out on our streets and in our courtrooms, but the leadership, guidance, and support behind it are essential to getting the job done. Last week, Chief McTaggart had the honor of hosting United States Attorney General Todd Blanche when he visited Des Moines.

Strong leadership helps makes safe communities a reality.

Community is built through shared commitment and showing up and working together for the families we serve. We were prou...
08/26/2026

Community is built through shared commitment and showing up and working together for the families we serve.

We were proud to join Qdesign 515 Barber Studio for their 6th annual Back To School event! Hosted this year by Collective Artistry Tattoo, free haircuts, backpacks, and other school supplies were shared with families ahead of the first day of school in Des Moines!

Thanks to everyone who helped gear the kids up to head back to school feeling confident, prepared, and supported!

6 years after the search for Jermaine Patton began, advances in investigative technology gave detectives new leads; ones...
08/25/2026

6 years after the search for Jermaine Patton began, advances in investigative technology gave detectives new leads; ones that revealed Patton’s location and brought the search to an end.

Wanted on felony charges, Special Victims Section detectives have been searching for Patton since the crimes were reported in 2020. The evidence was heartbreaking; a child suffering abuse for over a decade. Tips over the years had suggested he had run as far as Arizona.

Detectives followed leads generated through analysis of cell data and LPR technology to a home in the Watrous Heights neighborhood on the city’s south side last week. Patton eventually surrendered into custody without incident.

A long time coming, accountability begins.

Address

25 E. 1st Street
Des Moines, IA
50309

Telephone

+15152834800

Website

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