Throughout my career, I have held firm to three principles that have guided my service to the Marshalltown community: Service, Pride, and Accountability. These principles have been demonstrated in various ways, from community outreach programs to successful investigations. In positive times, I have utilized these principles to garner public support and help build community confidence in my agency’s services. In challenging times, I use this focus to regain my priorities and overcome unexpected obstacles. As Police Chief of the Marshalltown Police Department, I continue to communicate these focus areas as our agency progresses.

Our law enforcement officers are in a service profession; most newly recruited police officers will tell you that they are interested in the law enforcement field because they wish to help others and make a difference. Service within the field of public safety can occur at various levels. Service begins with building confidence in the quality of work that an officer does daily and extends to the quality of investigations we conduct, as well as the satisfaction that victims feel knowing their needs are being met by the service provided. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that confidence in our agency’s service is not solely our responsibility. It’s a joint effort, because we can only work effectively with the public’s help and support. If the public trusts us to perform well, they will work with us to meet our agency goals and community expectations. Your trust is our most valuable asset.

Individuals want to take pride in their efforts and accomplishments in any line of work. Law enforcement is no exception. Staff hope that the work they put into their jobs will be appreciated when it goes well and that they are supported when things do not go as planned, especially when factors are beyond their control. The Marshalltown Police Department has made significant strides in gaining public support and acceptance, and our current and retired staff take pride in our agency and the service we provide to everyone in our community.

Law enforcement leaders often utilize accountability to establish a system of checks and balances, ensuring that officers operate within established standards, policies, and expectations. Accountability has always been much more extensive in my career than solely a police leadership task. Accountability extends to the positive working relationships we maintain with other officers within our agency, the public safety professionals we collaborate with outside of our agency, and the general public. Accountability is everyone’s responsibility, and our agency encourages those with thoughts and questions regarding our service to reach out to me at any time. My door remains open for constructive conversations on how to improve our department’s service to the Marshalltown community.

I am deeply grateful for the overwhelming support the Marshall County community has shown for our public safety services. Please know that this public gratitude does not go unnoticed. Your appreciation and personal acknowledgments of the service our public safety members provide continue to motivate all of our agencies to strive for improvement. These gestures serve as a powerful reminder of the strength of our community and the dedication we all have in helping to make Marshall County a great place to live. Your active participation and feedback are essential to our mission of serving you better.

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Christopher Jones is the chief of the

Marshalltown Police Department.