Police Board Hires Isom as New Chief

Following the scandal-ridden resignation of Joe Mokwa, the governor-appointed St. Louis Police Board has selected Colonel Daniel Isom as the new police chief.

Here is the official announcement from Police Board President Chris Goodson:

Members of the Department:

Today, Monday, October 6, 2008, the Board of Police Commissioners convened in executive session to further deliberate on the selection of the Metropolitan Police Department’s next Chief of Police. The selection process began on August 6, 2008.

As many of you know, Missouri State Statue allows for any member of the Department who holds the rank of Captain and above to be eligible for the position of Chief of Police. Initially 13 candidates applied for the position and after a series of assessments that pool of candidates was narrowed to eight finalists.

The Board worked with a leadership development organization to ensure that it had complete understanding of each finalist’s likelihood of success as Chief. Each finalist was given four different written assessments to identify leadership potential. The finalists also participated in individual interviews discussing their responsibilities over the years, and any challenges faced throughout his/her career. Each finalist discussed his/her educational background and experiences, management style, judgment, risk-taking abilities and stress management. Each finalist was also asked to candidly discuss anything he/she would’ve done differently. The results of the assessments and interviews were turned over to the Board.

In the final step of the process, each finalist gave a presentation to the Board about his/her accomplishments, vision for the Department, and plans to achieve that vision. Board members asked each finalist a series of questions relating to each of the following areas: professional development, accountability and responsibility in leadership, organizational awareness, decision-making and assertiveness, creativity and innovation in leading change, and technology awareness.

The Board took all of those components of the process into account in selecting the Department’s next Chief of Police. The Board is confident the selected candidate will bring the positive change necessary to take this Department in a new direction with excellent leadership and the highest level of police service that the St. Louis Community has come to expect.

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to announce Colonel Daniel Isom as the Department’s 33rd Chief of Police. Colonel Isom is a 20-year veteran of the Department and a life-long resident of the City of St. Louis. His years of experience and dedication have prepared him to lead this Department. The Board would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the seven other finalists that participated in the process; Lt. Colonel Reggie Harris, Lt. Colonel Roy Joachimstaler, Lt. Colonel Stephen Pollihan, Major Alfred Akins, Major Antoinette Filla, Major Paul Nocchiero and Major Lawrence O’Toole.

Please join the Board in welcoming and congratulating Colonel Dan Isom as the Chief of Police of this great Department

Colonel Chris Goodson, President
Board of Police Commissioners

For the first time ever, the Police Board is requiring the new chief to sign a contract, which includes annual performance reviews.

Despite the scandal and mismanagement of former police chief Joe Mokwa, which is still being investigated by the FBI, the Board voted to give Mokwa $100,000 in severance pay.

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