Iowa’s longest-serving police chief to retire

CORALVILLE - It's the end of an era at the Coralville Police Department.

Early next year, Coralville Police Chief Barry Bedford - currently Iowa's longest-serving police chief - plans to retire. A police officer since 1973, Bedford has served as Coralville's chief since 1988 after joining the department full-time in 1974.

After more than 40 years in law enforcement, Bedford said he hasn't lost his love for the job.

'Pretty much everything,” he said when asked what he'll miss most. 'I truly love the job, have a passion for it and believed it was my calling. I will always wear the uniform in my heart.”

Bedford said it was a combination of his age and desire to spend time with his family that contributed to his decision to retire. The Iowa Code limits the age of peace officers to 65 and Bedford turned 66 earlier this month. He has agreed to stay on as an Administrative Chief of Police - meaning he no longer has any arrest authority - until his successor is in place. City officials anticipate a new chief taking over in January 2017.

Those who have worked closest with Bedford during his career said his retirement does not come as a surprise. At the same time, it's a challenge to picture the Coralville Police Department without Bedford, they said.

'It's hard to imagine the police department without Barry as its chief,” said Coralville Mayor John Lundell, who has known Bedford since the early 1980s. 'He's been an absolutely terrific chief in all respects.”

A member of the Coralville Police Department for 26 years, Lt. Shane Kron said he's not quite sure what he'll do when Bedford retires.

'I will miss his guidance, his insight,” Kron said. 'I don't know what it's going to be like. He's been a mentor, he's been a guide. We talk every day and he has helped me advance my career tremendously.”

Bedford said he counts his biggest successes in his career as the times he's been able to help someone in need.

'My biggest success has been when I have been able to help a child who is scared or traumatized,” he said. 'When I have been able to comfort those who have been victimized, when I have been able to successfully dialogue with those who may disagree with me and we find some common ground and work toward building trust. I guess I could count it as a success each and every time that I was able to make a positive difference in one person's life.”

Building relationships with the public - particularly those who might not be happy with the police department - is one of Bedford's biggest strengths, Kron said.

'My favorite thing is watching him deal with someone coming into the police department who is not happy,” Kron said. 'Because he listens. He finds common ground, I've learned a lot just watching his interactions with people. He's really good with people who are not happy.”

Bedford said he has also prided himself in building relationships with the public.

'I always strove to earn the public's trust and try and dialogue and partner with the community to that end,” he said. 'I hated dealing with negative personnel issues. It has to be done and oversight and accountability is necessary for public trust in the police. I am proud to say that, over the years, I have been blessed to have a very professional and fine group of men and women working with me.”

Coralville has partnered with Des Moines-based Moulder and Associates Police Consultants to search for a new chief. In the meantime, Bedford said - like so many others - he's trying to figure out what life is going to be like when he's no longer chief.

'I will have to do something,” he said. 'I'm the type of person who goes on vacation and is ready to come back to work after three or four days.”

Bedford said he read a book a few years ago that challenged the reader to use the last years of their life to focus on significance rather than success. That lesson has stuck with him, he said.

'It's not important how successful you may have been, but how you might positively invest your life into people and things that will last beyond you,” he said.