After 15 month bout with cancer, he’s Iowa City officer of the year

IOWA CITY - From the time he was a boy, Dennis Kelly wanted to be a police officer.

Eleven years ago, those dreams were achieved when he was hired by the Iowa City Police Department.

Kelly, 35, said he loved being on patrol, with the opportunities it gave him to help those in need.

'Just the ability to help somebody that's in a crisis and the ability to help them through that,” he said.

But two years ago, it was Kelly who went through a crisis. In spring 2015, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, putting his life and career on hold for 15 months as he underwent treatment and surgeries.

In July 2016, Kelly - still dealing with the effects of his treatment - returned to duty. In late March, Kelly was named the department's 2016 officer of the year for his 'continued perseverance (and) dedication.”

'I'm still surprised by it,” Kelly said last week of his recognition. 'There are so many of my co-workers that I can think of that could've gotten this award. It's very humbling.”

A native of New York, Kelly said his family moved around a lot before landing in Iowa. After high school, he pursued law enforcement in earnest, taking security jobs at the Duane Arnold Energy Center and with Alliant Energy before being hired by the Iowa City Police Department.

Kelly, who has spent his career on patrol, said there's a lot to enjoy about the work. Every day is different, he said, and there often are opportunities to make a meaningful impact on someone's life.

'It's not something I get to do every day,” Kelly said of those opportunities. 'But when I do get to, it's something I enjoy. I get the most out of that.”

When cancer hit, Kelly didn't know if he'd get to return to the job he loved. He went through multiple surgeries and four rounds of intensive chemotherapy at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Throughout it all, though, Kelly said the city and the police department never wavered in their support. In fact, while Kelly, now-retired Lt. Mike Brotherton and community service Officer Jim Williams were all battling cancer, the police department placed decals on their squad cars recognizing the men. The decals remain on many of the squad cars, as well as Iowa City Fire Department and Johnson County Ambulance Service vehicles.

'It's huge,” Kelly said of the gesture. 'Knowing the police department would do something like that is phenomenal.”

When Kelly returned to work last summer, he said he had to learn new department policies and get up to date on any legal changes that had occurred, as well as contend with the lingering effects of his cancer treatment. But he said he had the full support of the police department.

He has returned to his role as a field training officer, showing the ropes to new recruits out of the police academy.

Kelly said he learned about his recognition in February when he was on patrol. Capt. Bill Campbell pulled up beside him and gave him the good news.

'I was very surprised,” Kelly said.

Campbell said it was a 'very special moment” for him, as well. He credited not only Kelly's dedication to the community, but to his fellow officers.

'Dennis is a very special person. He's very, very dedicated to the people around him,” Campbell said. 'The community is very fortunate to have him serve as a police officer.”

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