Sep 12, 2022 - News

Des Moines considers $250k police consultant plan

Jason Clayworth

A photo of the Des Moines Police station. — Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios

The Des Moines City Council will consider spending $250,000 to hire a third-party consultant to assess police policies, procedures and training under a Monday night proposal.

Why it matters: The goal is to improve police accountability and assist DMPD in obtaining national accreditation, Mayor Frank Cownie told Iowa PBS earlier this year.

State of play: DMPD has faced multiple accusations of excessive force, illegal stops or racial profiling since 2020 — including in the case involving Councilperson Indira Sheumaker.

The city spent $85,000 last year for a separate, independent report on how to better collect law enforcement data to improve fairness and prevent discrimination.

What's next: DSM would hire 21CP Solutions, a Chicago-based company.

They specialize in helping governments improve public safety programs.

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Des Moines considers $250k police consultant plan

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