Coralville looks inside for naming its new police chief

Coralville police Lt. Kyle Nicholson is set to become the city’s new police chief, pending the City Council’s approval Tuesday at a special meeting.

Nicholson was one of four finalists for the job to replace retired chief Shane Kron. He joined the Coralville department in 2014 and was promoted to investigations/administrative lieutenant in 2023. He has a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia Southern University.

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“Kyle’s commitment to public safety and our community were clear throughout the selection process and I have full confidence in his leadership for our officers,” City Administrator Kelly Hayworth said in his recommendation of Nicholson.

At a public reception in August where community members could meet police chief finalists, Nicholson said he wanted to bring innovative ideas to the department, encourage efficient use of department resources and prioritize forming community relationships.

“We have to protect our officers who protect and serve,” Nicholson said at the reception. “I think the vision is just to carry on, continue to exceed expectations of the community we’ve sworn to serve and protect.”

The police chief oversees a department of 40 employees, 36 of them officers. The department’s budget for fiscal year 2025 is a little over $6.1 million.

The nationwide search for a new chief was conducted when Kron retired after seven years as chief and 34 years with the department.

Four finalists were chosen by Hayworth and the civil service commission, which included two internal candidates and two external candidates from other departments in the Midwest. The job pays in the range of $126,885 to $165,103 a year.

The other internal candidate was Lt. Deborah Summers, who has been with the department since 2005 and a lieutenant since 2013. She was a military police officer with the U.S. Army for five years and holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Upper Iowa University.

Cayler Consulting assisted in the monthlong search and reviewed the nine applications received. The Omaha-based consultants have led searches for police chiefs in other Iowa cities such as Council Bluffs and Waukee.

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