David Dostal Appointed as Police Chief

On Tuesday, February 13, the Cedar Rapids City Council confirmed the appointment of David L. Dostal as the next City of Cedar Rapids Police Chief.

“I would like to thank City Manager Pomeranz, the City Council, and the Cedar Rapids community for trusting me with this important responsibility,” said Dostal. “I am looking forward to working with the Police Department, City staff, and the Cedar Rapids community to build on the Department’s strong reputation of upholding public safety while meeting community needs.”

Pomeranz announced the selection on Monday, February 12, following a community-involved, nationwide search process, selecting from the Civil Service Commission’s (Nancy Evans, Chair; Kory Kazimour; and Greg Reed) Certified List of four finalists.

“Selecting a candidate who would be the best fit for our Cedar Rapids Police Department was crucial. The right candidate needed to have the necessary leadership, teamwork, and subject-matter expertise to ensure effective oversight of the Department,” said Pomeranz. “I am confident that Chief Dostal will do a phenomenal job as Chief.”

The City conducted the search with the help of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The Civil Service Commission narrowed down 17 applications, placing the names of four finalists on the Certified List. Under City Manager Jeff Pomeranz’s guidance, the finalists were invited to Cedar Rapids to attend a series of interviews.

Pomeranz considered feedback received throughout the process — including surveys from interview panel members, data gathered from community members used to build the Candidate Profile, each candidate’s experience, and scores provided by the Civil Service Commission — in selecting David Dostal as the candidate whose qualifications most closely matched a community-created Police Chief Candidate Profile. The City Council confirmed Pomeranz’s appointment at their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 13.

“I am pleased to have supported City Manager Pomeranz’s selection of Dostal. I extend my appreciation to the City Manager, Civil Service Commission, City staff, and the countless community members who participated in the rigorous selection process,” said Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell. “We are fortunate to have Chief Dostal, a product of our community, stepping into this role. His advancement through the ranks, and successful competition against top national talent, highlight the high caliber of leadership being developed within our Police Department. I trust Chief Dostal will lead with integrity, ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.”

Dostal has served his entire career with the Cedar Rapids Police Department, starting as a Police Officer in 1991. Dostal’s experience performing in various roles across many of the Department’s divisions taught him to care deeply for the officers that risk their lives every day for the community. His experience also afforded the opportunity to build and maintain strong community relationships.

Dostal holds a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell College and has received numerous professional development certifications across a variety of topics, including graduation from the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police in 2021. He has received several awards and recognitions, including Recruit Officer of The Year, Community Service Award, Commendation of Heroism, Police Officer of the Year, Employee of the Quarter, and the Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Award presented by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration recognizing Dostal’s efforts to make Cedar Rapids a drug-free community.

Dostal lives in Cedar Rapids and has been married to his wife, Melissa, for 30 years. Together, they have one son, Nolan, who has served as a Police Officer with the Cedar Rapids Police Department since 2021.

Dostal will be the 28th Police Chief in Department history. The Chief of Police is the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the City of Cedar Rapids, responsible for managing and leading the Police Department while ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. The Chief oversees all employees in the Police Department, including the hiring and training process, and works with other law enforcement agencies and community organizations to maintain public safety. Tom Jonker served as interim Police Chief while the search was underway and will resume his duties as Deputy Chief.

“I would like to recognize the efforts of the Police Department over this past year; particularly their teamwork and dedication under the leadership of Deputy Chief Jonker, who has done an outstanding job accelerating the Department forward while we have worked to find our next Police Chief,” said Pomeranz. “I would like to thank Deputy Chief Jonker, the Police Department, Civil Service Commission, City Staff, involved community members, and the Mayor and City Council for their support throughout this process.”

Find more information about the search and selection process at CityofCR.com/PoliceChief