HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-24-2020 Civil Service CommissionCivil Service Commission
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Electronic Meeting — 8:00 AM
Zoom Meeting Platform
Electronic Meeting
(Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8)
An electronic meeting is being held because a meeting in person is impossible or
impractical due to concerns for the health and safety of Commission members, staff
and the public presented by COVID-19.
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1. Certification of hiring list for the position of Police Chief
2. Fix time and place to reopen Terry Tack appeal hearing
3. Tack appeal hearing procedural issues
a. Advance information requirements from Commission
b. Use of court reporter
c. Other matters
If you will need disability -related accommodations in order to participate in this program/event, please
contact Karen Jennings, Human Resources at 319-356-5025 or karen-ienningsCc>iowa-city.org. Early
requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
CITY OF IOWA CITY
MEMORANDUM
Date: September 21, 2020
To: Civil Service Commission and City Council
From: Geoff Fruin, City Manager
Re: Approval of Police Chief Appointment
Introduction:
Following the February 24, 2020 retirement of Police Chief Jody Matherly, the City Manager's
Office launched a recruitment process to fill the vacant position. The recruitment and hiring
process was approved by the Civil Service Commission at their February 7, 2020 meeting.
At its September 241h, 2020 meeting, the Civil Service Commission will be asked to certify Mr.
Dustin Liston as qualified for the position of Police Chief in accordance with the Commission
approved recruitment and hiring process. As required by the City Charter and assuming Civil
Service Commission certification, I am also seeking the City Council's approval of my
appointment of Mr. Liston to the Police Chief position effective January 11, 2021.
Recruitment Process:
The first step in the recruitment process involved the drafting of the job description and
announcement. Staff utilized the City Council's strategic plan, as well as the recently revised
mission statement for the Iowa City Police Department to help guide the development of this
recruitment tool. The following were listed as descriptors for the ideal candidate:
• Appreciation and sensitivity for cultural and racial diversity;
• Be an approachable and dynamic leader who is able to inspire the community and ICPD;
• Ability to serve as a mentor and coach who provides staff clear and consistent expectations
of performance and promotional criteria;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Be respectful of community protest as an exercise in democracy and form of feedback;
• Be solution -focused and open to productive change;
• Be an active participant on City executive team willing to assist other departments;
• Transparent within the limits of the law;
• Value the importance of regional law enforcement cooperation;
• Have ability to support, manage, motivate and hold employees accountable;
• Ability to maintain productive working relationships with labor unions
The full position announcement was posted on the City's website and can still be viewed at
Application materials were disseminated in February 2020, and the position was advertised
through the following outlets:
• Craigslist
• Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL)
• GovDelivery (City of Iowa City news release)
• Facebook
• GovtJobs
• Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA)
September21, 2020
Page 2
• Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC)
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
• Iowa City/County Management Association (ICMA)
• Iowa League of Cities
• Iowa Police Chiefs
• Kirkwood Community College
• Linkedln
• National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE)
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Twitter
• University of Iowa Handshake
Application materials were received from 18 candidates by the April 301 deadline. With the
assistance of several executive management team staff members, I reviewed all the application
materials (resume and cover letters) and determined nine candidates warranted further
consideration based on the recruitment profile and the necessary qualifications. Next, each of
the nine candidates received a questionnaire containing five questions. For the eventual finalist
candidates, their responses were shared publicly on the City's recruitment website, During this
questionnaire phase of the process, four candidates voluntarily withdrew from further
consideration. A team of City staff reviewed the remaining five candidates and I selected four to
advance to the semi-finalist interview phase.
In order to help provide a broader range of feedback on the four remaining candidates, a
committee of 15 people was assembled to conduct interviews. Interview questions were
developed, in part, from suggestions received from the 15-member panel, as well as from
feedback received from the public at earlier points in the recruitment process. The panel was
divided into two teams and each of the four candidates interviewed via video conferencing with
both panels. The members of the interview panel are listed below:
• Nancy Bird, Iowa City Downtown District
• Stefanie Bowers, Iowa City Office of Equity and Human Rights
• LaTasha DeLoach, The Center
• Eleanor Dikes, City Attorney
• Geoff Fruin, City Manager
• Scott Gaarde, Iowa City Police Lieutenant
• Karen Jennings, Iowa City Human Resources
• Angie Jordan, Neighborhood Association Representative
• Bijou Maliabo, Human Rights Commission
Kelcey Patrick-Feree, ACLU Hawkeye Chapter
• Andy Rich, Iowa City Police Officer
• Kevin Sanders, NAACP
• Tony Siva nthaphanith, Iowa City Pride
• Orville Townsend, Community Police Review Board
Rick Wyss, Civil Service Commission
At the conclusion of the four interviews, the interview teams discussed insight into each of the
candidates. Some of the individual members also spoke with me separately to share additional
thoughts on the candidates and their responses to the questions. It is important to note that the
interview panelists were not asked to endorse or choose candidates. Rather, they shared their
views and helped inform my decision on who to advance to the finalist stage and what, if any,
issues they felt needed to be further explored at the finalist phase of the process. I would like to
thank each of these panel members publicly for their contributions to the process. They offered
important feedback and I fully expect the next Police Chief will immediately upon hire begin to
build relationships with these community members and the organizations that they represent.
September21, 2020
Page 3
After feedback was received from the interview panel, I advanced three candidates to the finalist
stage of the process. The names of the candidates were released publicly, along with their
resumes and answers to the previously mentioned questionnaires. The finalist stage included
an optional community tour, optional police station tour, a final interview, a youth panel
discussion, a Police Department staff meet and greet, a lunch with City staff and/or Council
member, and a public meet and greet session.
The community tour was coordinated through Think Iowa City, while Police staff conducted the
station tour. The final interview was led by me, and I was joined by Mayor Teague and
Councilors Mims and Bergus. The youth panel was facilitated by The Center Director LaTasha
DeLoach, with Councilor Weiner observing. Participating youth were selected by United Action
for Youth, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, and Dream City. The public meet and
greet session was held outdoors at Mercer Park in a COVID-safe manner. Approximately 40 to
50 community members attended, and candidates spoke with small groups individually for two
and half hours until each member of the public had an opportunity to speak with all three
candidates. The public was given hard copy forms to fill out and submit, as well as an electronic
survey option that could be completed in the days immediately following the event.
Concurrently with the finalist phase of the process, the City conducted background checks on all
three candidates. The City hired Moulder and Associates (Des Moines) to conduct the
background checks. Moulder and Associates has extensive experience with police recruitment
processes and provided valuable insight into each of the candidates.
The process that is outlined above is far more extensive than any other department head
recruitment, but necessary given the importance of this position. The public involvement and
feedback received from start to finish absolutely helped shape my views on the candidates. The
feedback also helped me identify lines of questioning with each of the candidates. At the
conclusion of the process, I felt fully confident that I had the information I needed to make a
well-informed decision.
Recommendation
The appointment of management staff is arguably the greatest responsibility that a City
Manager holds. I take this task very seriously and consider each appointment to be a direct
reflection on my ability to successfully serve this city, which I am so fortunate to call home. After
an extensive search process, it is without any hesitation that I recommend that the Civil Service
Commission certify and that the City Council approve the appointment of Mr. Dustin Liston to
the position of Police Chief, effective January 11, 2021.
Mr. Liston was born and raised in Eldora, Iowa and later resided in Iowa City while attending the
University of Iowa, where he graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and
Sociology. After graduation, he joined the El Paso, Texas Police Department where he has
served for 22 years. During his tenure at the El Paso Police Department, he has risen through
the ranks, finishing as the top candidate in both the department's Sergeant and Lieutenant
promotional processes. In 2016, Mr. Liston earned a Master of Science degree in Criminal
Justice from Sul Ross State University (Alpine, Texas). Mr. Liston also served in the Iowa Army
National Guard from 1992-1998.
Mr. Liston currently serves as a Lieutenant assigned as the Director of the El Paso Fusion
Center, a regional multiagency intelligence hub with a mission to protect the citizens and critical
infrastructure of Far West Texas and Southern New Mexico, while preserving the privacy and
the U.S. and Texas Constitutional rights of all individuals and organizations. His assignment and
success in leading the Fusion Center demonstrates his keen ability to collaborate with external
agencies and stakeholders. His leadership and communication skills became very apparent in
the aftermath of the tragic August 3, 2019 active shooter incident that resulted in the loss of 23
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lives at an El Paso area Wal-Mart. Mr, Liston's leadership during the response and the ensuing
investigation has been described by El Paso Police Department leadership as vital.
The El Paso Police Department is a large department with 1,173 sworn officers and 299 civilian
staff. It serves a diverse community of 680,000 residents and is located immediately adjacent to
the borders of Mexico and New Mexico. Over 80% of El Paso residents identify as Hispanic. El
Paso is home to The University of Texas of El Paso, which has an enrollment of over 25,000
students. Mr. Liston's service in this community has provided him an opportunity to positively
collaborate with a diverse population, which is a continuing point of emphasis for the Iowa City
Police Department. His experience serving a diverse community with a large higher education
institution is also an invaluable asset to our community. It is important to note that the El Paso
Police Department's demographics closely mirror that of the community it serves. As Mr. Liston
stated in his questionnaire response, this was "made possible with intense recruiting efforts in
those communities that may not have traditionally considered a career in law enforcement." The
diversification of the Iowa City Police Department remains a top priority and Mr. Liston's past
experiences in El Paso should serve us well in this regard.
Those who have worked with Mr. Liston describe him as a good listener and a deep and forward
thinker. He has proven to be a strong collaborator and is highly respected amongst his peers.
He has no disciplinary history in his 22 years with the El Paso Police Department, and is
regarded as having strong morals and ethics that serve as a foundation for all of his actions.
Others that know Mr. Liston describe him as courteous and empathetic. Mr. Liston was also
described as someone who takes a strong interest in the officers that he supervises. He enjoys
and takes seriously the task of mentoring young officers and helping them develop
professionally throughout their careers. His ability to motivate and fully support his staff while
holding them accountable and constantly working to improve on service delivery are unique
skills that are incredibly important for a Police Chief to possess.
Throughout the selection process, Mr. Liston exhibited a strong understanding of the type of
leader we need here in Iowa City. He understands that his role will be to lead this department as
it accelerates its path toward a more robust community policing model, one that acknowledges
the importance of equity and incorporates new approaches to long-term issues. His experience
with community policing programs in El Paso, such as the Crisis Intervention Team civilian co -
responder program, will undoubtedly help this effort. He is prepared to strengthen existing
relationships and build new ones in a meaningful manner that will create new and collaborative
community problem -solving efforts. Mr. Liston values transparency and will be a solid partner to
the Community Police Review Board, Human Rights Commission, and other boards and
commissions that are eager to work together to bridge gaps between community and police in a
positive, respectful manner. His commitment to the principles of procedural justice will permeate
throughout our department and improve our collective efforts to consistently serve all persons in
a fair and impartial manner. Mr. Liston is prepared to hold our staff accountable when mistakes
are made, and simultaneously lift our team up each time they successfully carry out our public
service duties.
I take great comfort in knowing that Mr. Liston is coming to Iowa City with a deep passion and
appreciation for our city and state. He is already personally invested in our community and his
care for Iowa City will be reflected in his day -today work here. Mr. Liston will enjoy the support
of a talented and equally passionate group of employees in the Iowa City Police Department. I
trust they will embrace his leadership style, and I have every bit of confidence that together, the
department will continue to innovate and serve this community with care, compassion, fairness,
and the highest level of integrity. Iowa City has a fantastic Police Department and it will only
grow stronger under Mr. Liston's direction,
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the efforts of the Iowa City Police Department
during the last several months of transition. Specifically, I would like to acknowledge Captains
Bill Campbell and Denise Brotherton who have admirably filled the role of Interim Police Chief,
September21, 2020
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They have exhibited extraordinary professionalism and a deep commitment to serving this
community through a very challenging and difficult time in our country's history. Captains
Campbell and Brotherton will continue to play critical roles for this community in the months and
years ahead.
As is always the case during times of transition, many other employees are asked to take on
additional responsibility, and our Police Department staff has done so commendably, remaining
committed to providing exceptionally high levels of service to the community. Thank you to our
hard-working staff at the Iowa City Police Department. I am proud of the men and women of the
Iowa City Police Department. Their enduring dedication to public service and commitment to
continually improving the way we serve each and every one of our residents gives me a
tremendous amount of confidence that Chief Liston will be well -positioned for success in his
new role.
Thank you also to the Civil Service Commission and City Council for participating in various
ways throughout the process. I look forward to answering any questions you have about the
process or my appointment of Mr. Dustin Liston.
September 24, 2020
TO: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council
RE: Civil Service Certified List — POLICE CHIEF
I r )
�t 111 a
CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa S2240-1826
(319) 356-5000
(319) 356-5009 FAX
www.lcgov.org
We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission for Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby certify the
following named person as eligible for the position of Police Chief.
Dustin Liston
IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Melissa Jensen, Chair
Richard Wyss
Ann Rhodes
ATTEST:
Kellie Fruehling, City Clerk