Marion police chief retires, ending the longest tenure in the county

MARION — The second-longest serving police chief in Marion's history is calling it a career.

Marion Police Chief Harry Daugherty — known for his old-school mustache and self-given nicknames, 'Big Kahuna' and 'Big Dog,' went to work for the last time on Friday, bring an end to 40 years with the department.

'It will be hard and emotional to leave,' said Daugherty, 62, his voice quivering a bit during a recent interview at his office. 'I will miss my people who I've worked with for so long.'

Daugherty has served as Marion's police chief for 20 years. Capt. Doug Slagle has been named acting chief as city officials, with help from a consultant, conduct a national search for Daugherty's replacement.

Daugherty began his career as a correctional officer at Anamosa State Penitentiary for about six months before being hired as a Marion patrol officer. The chief attributes any success he's had to his officers, support staff and the community itself. Daugherty estimates he has hired 74 officers and support staff and has promoted 46 officers over the past 20 years. When Daugherty started on patrol in 1976, there were 17 officers in the department. Now there are 46.

Daugherty said he knew at a young age he wanted to serve and help people. He joined the U.S. Army after graduation, became a military police officer and never considered another career.

City Manager Lon Plunkhahn said Daugherty focused on training and technology and helped create the city's K-9 program, DARE/school resource officer program and the High Risk Entry and Arrest Team — or HEAT.

Daugherty also was involved with planning and building a new police station, which opened in 2013, and was instrumental in initiating a program through which officers pursue investigations of internet crime against children and human trafficking.

Slagle described his boss as a 'caring person' who personally knows everybody in the department.

'His identity and personality is this job and without him a lot of tradition, including the mustache, and experience will be gone,' Slagle said.

Daugherty said he is proud that over the past 15 years, Marion consistently has been ranked as one of the safest cities in Iowa for communities with more than 20,000 people. Marion's population is about 37,000.

He said his biggest regret is not getting an arrest in the James Booher homicide investigation. Booher, 51, of Marion last was seen in Cedar Rapids on May 31, 2014, and his truck was found abandoned in Cedar Rapids about a week later.

Booher's name came up in a recent federal case involving Matthew Robbins, convicted on drug and firearms charges.

'I'm confident there will be a resolution in the near future,' Daugherty said. 'It remains an open investigation.'

Daugherty also said he will never forget the fatal stabbing of Lynnsey Donald, 29, last year in the Marion Hy-Vee parking lot. Nicholas Luerkens, 33, was convicted and is serving a life sentence for her murder.

Daugherty said he keeps in touch with Donald's family.

'It affected so many people because of where it happened,' Daugherty said. 'I know it affected my officers.'