Being responsible for the safety and well being of a whole community is a huge job. But Indianola Police Chief Steve Bonnett and his force are up to the task.
Bonnett has been the head of the police department since November 1997; hes been on the force for 17 years. Hes the only chief that has been hired from within.
Im pretty proud of that, Bonnett said. It means that after 15 years they had enough confidence in my abilities to lead the department to hire me.
In that time there have been many changes, but the biggest one has been the overall attitude of the police department toward the community. And that is one of Bonnetts main goals as chief.
Policing a community is a tough task that requires being firm and assertive. Bonnett emphasizes that his officers and staff treat people with dignity and respect while still doing their jobs. He feels his officers are better at accomplishing that because they are also an integral part of the community. This is where they work, live and play.
Officers try to interact more with the public both in and out of uniform. There are more outreach and educational programs offered. The department often sponsors community activities like dances and bike rodeos. Officers even have their pictures emblazoned on police force trading cards, which should be available by the end of September.
Theres more to the job than arresting people and writing tickets. Were trying to break down the barriers that were there before. I hope officers feel they have some stake in the community, Bonnett said.
Bonnett oversees a staff of 18 sworn officers, four reserves, one part-time officer and five clerical staff. Of the 18 sworn officers Bonnett has personally hired seven. Although not consciously recruiting this way, all but one of the officers hired have come from towns smaller than Indianola. Bonnett said this has proven to be an asset. According to Bonnett, these officers tend to have a better sense of community and public relations.
Practicing what he preaches to his department, Bonnett himself has an open door policy. He tries to keep regular hours so anyone who wants to can come in off the street, no appointment necessary, and talk to him. To Bonnett, this has definite advantages it not only keeps the lines of communication open, but he also can keep on top of any small problems or concerns before they grow into bigger ones.
As Indianola grows there will be more changes. One of those changes is an increase in crime. But no matter how big the city gets, Bonnett said, My job is to maintain a sense of community. Hes confident his department is up to the task.
When hes not seeing to the safety of the city, Bonnett enjoys being out on the lake with his ski boat. Hes also taking flying lessons and will have his pilots license in a month. He and his wife Mary have two children, Ryan, 19, and Angie, 17.
