Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Police topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Le Mars mayor appoints Justin Dale as police chief; council approves and swears him in
Summary
The Le Mars City Council approved Mayor’s recommendation to name Justin Dale police chief; Dale, interim since May, was sworn in immediately and thanked the council and community.
The Le Mars City Council on July 21 approved the mayor’s recommendation to appoint Justin Dale as the city’s police chief and administered his oath of office.
The mayor told the council that Dale had served as interim police chief since May 5, 2026, and that two applicants had been interviewed by the public safety committee on June 30. After the committee recommended Dale, the mayor formally recommended the council approve the appointment and the motion to accept the recommendation carried.
Dale was sworn in immediately. Reciting the oath, he pledged to support the constitutions of the United States and the State of Iowa and to administer the duties of chief of police impartially and without favor. After the ceremony, Dale said, “I just wanna thank the council, and, looking forward to this. A lot of support behind me and a lot of good leadership that I’ve learned from in the past several years I’ve been in law enforcement.”
The mayor thanked former Chief Vande Beck for preparing the department and noted the public safety committee’s role in the recruitment process. The council’s action was taken by motion and approved; the meeting record shows the motion carried.
Dale will begin duties immediately as police chief, the mayor said.
