Iowa City Police announce first promotion after voluntary demotion of captain

IOWA CITY - The Iowa City Police Department has announced its first promotion in the wake of a former captain voluntarily demoting himself two ranks to sergeant earlier this month.

According to a department news release, Sgt. Dave Droll has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In that role, Lt. Droll will be acting commander of administrative services.

Droll was hired as a patrol officer in Sept. 1991 and has served as investigator, bicycle officer, field training officer and firearms instructor. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in March 2010. Droll served as a patrol sergeant before his most-recent assignment as sergeant of training and accreditation.

Earlier this month, the city confirmed that Doug Hart, former captain of administrative services, had voluntarily demoted himself to sergeant of training and accreditation. Neither Police Chief Sam Hargadine nor former City Manager Tom Markus disclosed the reason for Hart's decision.

Hargadine said the decision did not involve illegal activity or anything that would have put public safety or the department's integrity at risk.

The department is still without a captain of administrative services. Hargadine said he does not have a valid civil service list for captain and a new list would have to be created, a process that could take several months.