(Le Mars) — Le Mars has a new police chief. Officer Kevin Vande Vegte, a 20 year veteran with the Le Mars Police Department is the choice for the top cop post.
Vande Vegte’s name was submitted for approval on Wednesday for the Le Mars Civil Service Commission. He will still need to be approved by the Le Mars City Council during their July 18th meeting, before the position becomes official. Vande Vegte says his quest for leadership training and additional education may have helped him become the city’s choice for police chief.
If given approval by the city council, Vande Vegte will begin his duties as the new Le Mars Police Chief on August 21st. One of Vande Vegte’s goals is to be visible and accessible to the public, and to continue good relations with the Le Mars community.
Vande Vegte says he was able to learn a lot from former police chief StuartDekkenga, and he wants to incorporate the success from Dekkenga’s administration, and combine it with his own personal touch.
Le Mars mayor Dick Kirchoff says Vande Vegte was the first choice among all the 12 people who conducted the series of interviews with the police chief candidates last Friday.
