Iowa City police introduce new public information officer

IOWA CITY - The Iowa City Police Department has a new spokesperson.

Sgt. Derek Frank took over on Sunday as the department's public information officer. He replaces Sgt. Scott Gaarde, who served in that role for the last three years.

Frank is a 19-year veteran of the department and has had numerous roles within the department, including field training officer, neighborhood response officer and patrol sergeant. In a news release, Frank said he is looking forward to expanding the department's use of social media.

'I'm excited to learn how to use social media in different ways that benefit the public and community,” Frank said. 'I'm jumping in with both feet.”

Gaarde is now a daytime patrol sergeant. The police department rotates sergeants through the public information officer position in order to expose them to the communication and research skills used in the position, the news release said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com