In March, then-Capt. Dennis Quinn was named by the Fort Dodge City Council as the chief of police upon former Chief Roger Porter’s retirement in early April.

During the City Council meeting during which Quinn’s appointment was confirmed, Porter assured the elected officials and the community at-large that they will be in good hands with Quinn leading the Police Department.

“When I think of Chief Quinn, I think of hard work,” he said. “Chief Quinn doesn’t tire and if he does, he doesn’t show it.”

Quinn thanked his family, friends, fellow law enforcement officers and the elected officials for their support.

“It has been my pleasure to serve the community for the past 14 years in the Police Department,” he said.

“I will make some mistakes as I take on the duties of police chief, but I will strive each day to do better,” he added.

Porter retired after 26 years with the FDPD, his last six as chief. Porter now works as the director of safety and security at the Fort Dodge Community School District.

After Quinn’s ascension to the top cop role, two promotions were made. Sgt. Steve Hanson was promoted to captain and Officer Matt Webb was promoted to sergeant. Hanson assumed Quinn’s former role as the commander of the department’s Criminal Investigations Division.

“You know, we’ve had a pretty tough year,” Quinn said. “But I’ve seen our officers step up and our veteran officers just become great leaders. A lot of our young officers, which we have a lot of them, have grown into really well-balanced patrol officers. And I’ve seen our detectives take a lot of different challenges that have been presented to them and just exceed a lot of expectations that anybody can have. I’m very proud of our department and I think that Fort Dodge should be proud of the department that serves them every day.”

The Police Department welcomed three new officers to its ranks in 2023. Officer Amy Stringer was hired in April after she left the Webster County Sheriff’s Office. Officers Madison Anderson and Kevin Smith were hired later in the year.

Thanks to a large donation from CJ Bio to the Fort Dodge Police Foundation, new weight room equipment was purchased for the department last year.

Citizens Community Credit Union also made a donation to the foundation, which is being used to purchase new desks and to update officers’ work stations.

“When the money was donated, we wanted to use that money for something that all the officers would be able to utilize,” Quinn said.

In 2024, Quinn is hoping to be able to add to and expand the citywide camera program. He said the department is currently waiting to hear back about a state grant to fund an expansion.

“As the years go on, we just want to continue to keep building that out,” he said. “It’s the cameras that we have downtown and the cameras that we put up at the Dodger Townhomes and things like that that have been such valuable tools to be able to help solve some of the different crimes accounted for — small and large.”

Officers in the department will also receive new body-worn cameras, and the cameras in the patrol vehicles and interview room will be replaced as well this year, Quinn said.

Along with the Webster County Safe Communities Coalition, the Fort Dodge Police Department purchased “naloxone boxes,” which are boxes that can be placed in various locations in the city and out in the county for people to access if someone is overdosing from an opioid. The boxes will be installed sometime this year, Quinn said.

“Hopefully, it’ll save a couple lives,” he said.