Pleasantville Police Chief Joe Mrstik to resign Aug. 2; says he wants role in hiring process

Mayor Kody Jurgens announced at the July 16 Pleasantville City Council meeting that Police Chief Joe Mrstik submitted his resignation and will leave his post effective Aug. 2 to take a job in Des Moines.

Chief Joe Mrstik confirmed his resignation and said he would like to be involved in choosing his successor. He also told the council the department is short a patrol car and that one vehicle is currently at Pella Motors for a transmission rebuild. "I will be resigning effective August 2nd. I would like to be part of the hiring process," Mrstik said.

Mayor Jurgens thanked Mrstik "for everything that he has done with the police department and administratively" and praised staff who completed Jasper Street Park. Council members did not take formal action on staffing or recruitment during the meeting.

The council also discussed a separate operational issue concerning sludge removed from a pond that had been placed on city property. Councilmember Aaron Hurt asked who was responsible for the material; Mrstik said Des Moines Dirt Worx would mix dirt with the sludge so grass could be grown and the city would perform erosion control. Mrstik reminded Jamie Adkins that a payment was due Aug. 1; according to the transcript, Adkins "assured him that we would get our payment."

Next steps for the police department vacancy were not detailed at the meeting. No formal hiring timeline or interim command structure was announced.