After faithfully serving the Indianola Police Department for more than three decades, and as the chief of police for the past three years, Chief Brian Sher will retire from his position on Monday, September 15.
“We are grateful for Chief Sher’s leadership and impact,” Indianola City Manager Jacob Meshke said. “He has dedicated his career to protecting and serving the residents of Indianola, and his dedication to public service and community policing is evident in every initiative he has led and every relationship he has built. Those qualities have shaped our city and the culture of the Indianola Department in immeasurable ways, always keeping the well-being of our officers and community at the forefront.”
Sher has been a member of the Indianola Police Department since September 15, 1994.
He began his career in undercover narcotics. Over the years, Sher climbed through the ranks as a patrol officer (January 1995-July 1996), coordinator of the Warren County/Marion County Drug Task Force (July 1996-May 2001), detective sergeant (May 2001-October 2013), captain (October 2013-July 2021), interim chief (July 2021-October 2022) and chief.
Under his leadership, Sher:
- Guided the department to reach an authorized strength of 24 certified officers in 2024.
- Initiated the formation of the Special Response Team (SRT) in collaboration with the Warren County Attorney’s Office.
- Helped relaunch the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in partnership with the Indianola Community School District.
- Added a second school resource officer with the Indianola Community School District.
- Formed a new cooperative community service officer role with the City’s Community Development Department.
- Implemented a K-9 unit in 2022 that has since made a great impact on narcotics enforcement.
- Started an unmanned aircraft system program in 2022 that today features six, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107-certified pilots to conduct real-world air missions.
- Increased opportunities for internal and external trainings for officers, where IPD conducted 2,306 hours of training in 2024 and every officer exceeded the mandatory minimum 12-hour requirement.
- Actively engaged in dozens of public events and programs, working alongside department members, City staff and community partners to strengthen connections, promote safety and foster trust.
A public recognition event honoring Sher is planned for 3:30-5 p.m. on Friday, September 12.
Community members will have the opportunity to thank him for his years of service. The event will be held at the Indianola Activity Center, located at 2204 W 2nd Avenue in Indianola. Light refreshments will be available.
The City of Indianola will begin the search for its next police chief in the coming weeks. In the interim, Captain Rob Hawkins, a 25-year veteran, will lead the department to ensure a smooth transition.
For more information about the Indianola Police Department, please visit: indianolaiowa.gov/police.