(Le Mars) — The five finalists for the position of Le Mars Police Chief met the public last evening during a reception held at the city council chambers. Today, the five will go through a series of interviews with city council members and other civic leaders. KLEM news took a few minutes to learn more about the
five remaining candidates. The five include two police officers from the Le Mars Police Department, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, and one candidate from Michigan. We begin with Shane Brevik from the Spirit Lake Police Department.
Brevik is a 19 year veteran with law enforcement. Currently serves as a sergeant and is certified as a K-9 and SWAT officer. Brevik says he wants to settle in a growing community, and Le Mars has many factors that appealed to him and his family.
Shane Brevik – Spirit Lake Police Department
Bob Bendlin is a Lieutenant with the Le Mars Police Department. He has been an officer with the Le Mars Police Department since 1987. He says Le Mars is his home, and he and his family are invested into the community. Bendlin is in charge of the Le Mars Police Drug Task Force for 20 years. He is responsible for
maintaining officer training records, as well as serving as property and evidence officer. Bendlin wants to continue the tradition as established by former police chief Stuart Dekkenga, but at the same time, advance the use of
technology.
Bob Bendlin – Le Mars Police Department
Kevin Vande Vegte is the other Le Mars Police Officer chosen as a finalist candidate for the police chief position. Vande Vegte has worked with the Le Mars Police Department since 1997. He was previously at Rock Valley and Sioux Center police departments. Vande Vegte serves as the firearms and open sight rifle instructor, active shooter instructor, chemical munitions instructor, technical accident investigator, field sobriety and OWI instructor and school resource officer. Vande Vegte explains what he can bring to the Le Mars Police Department as its top officer.
Kevin Vande Vegte – Le Mars Police Department
Ray Eickholt is an officer with the Storm Lake Police Department. He holds the rank of Lieutenant and is a certified drug recognition expert, and oversees the National Night Out activities for the Storm Lake Police Department. Eickholt says he has been exposed to a town with a growing minority population, and he
believes that familiarity with minority groups will help if he is chosen as the next Le Mars Police Chief.
Ray Eickholt – Storm Lake Police Department
Deric Gress is the fifth finalist for the police chief position. Gress is originally from Colorado, but more recently has been a police officer with the Ypsilanti, Michigan Police Department. He holds the rank of Lieutenant, and is second in command with his police department. He has served as a K-9 handler, K-9 Unit Supervisor, Field Training Officer, Field Training Supervisor, Hostage Negotiator Team Leader, Taser instructor, and Defensive Tactics Instructor, and he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Gress explains why he would like
to move from Michigan to Le Mars and serve as the police chief for the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.”
Deric Gress – Ypsilanti, Michigan Police Department
We may know by the end of the day which of the five final candidates will be named as the new Le Mars Police Chief. It is the hope of city officials that the new chief will be able to assume the duties as early as August 15th.
