DES MOINES, Iowa — The city of Des Moines is welcoming a new police chief for the first time in nearly a decade.
Michael McTaggart will serve as the next Chief of Police for the Des Moines Police Department, City Manager Scott Sanders announced Wednesday.
"Michael McTaggart stood out as a candidate not only for his achievements, but also for the relationships he has built in our community over the past 25 years," Sanders said in a statement. "Chief McTaggart will have big shoes to fill in his new role and I have the utmost confidence that he will be able to rise to the challenge."
McTaggart replaces Chief Dana Wingert, who has served in the role since 2015. Sanders announced Wingert's retirement back in May.
"Chief appointee McTaggart has the experience, vision, and commitment to set the direction for public safety, law enforcement, and community engagement into the end of this decade," Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen said.
Since then, city officials have worked to find a replacement for Wingert, eventually narrowing the list down to two candidates: Maj. McTaggart of the Des Moines Police Department and Cmd. Joshua Wallace of the Chicago Police Department.
McTaggart currently oversees the Operations Division, the largest division of the Des Moines Police Department. He began his law enforcement career with DMPD in 1999, gradually working his way up the ranks. He was promoted to his current role of major in 2022.
"During my career, the DMPD has changed in numerous ways for the better and I'm looking forward to continuing the progress of improving our law enforcement practices, relationship with the community and recruiting and promotion efforts," McTaggart said in a statement.