Shane Kron named interim chief of police in Coralville

CORALVILLE - Coralville Police Lt. Shane Kron will serve as interim chief of the department until a permanent replacement can take over.

City Administrator Kelly Hayworth named Kron interim chief on Tuesday. While the Iowa code stipulates an interim chief can only serve for 90 days, that shouldn't be a factor in Coralville.

'I intend to appoint a permanent chief by the next City Council meeting,” Hayworth said Tuesday in an email. 'The interim will serve until the permanent chief can take over.”

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Coralville is in the final stages of naming a replacement for Chief Barry Bedford, who retired in January after 42 years with Coralville and 28 years as police chief.

Four finalists have been named to replace Bedford:

' Kron, who was hired as a police officer in 1990 and has since served as a patrol sergeant, patrol lieutenant and administrative lieutenant.

' Marion Police Lt. Scott Elam has 20 years of law enforcement experience and has served the Marion Police Department in a variety of capacities, including police officer, member of the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, detective, sergeant and lieutenant.

' Clive Police Chief Michael Venema, who has served in that capacity since 2012. Before that, Venema served as a patrol officer, sergeant and lieutenant with the Davenport Police Department.

' Woodbury County Sheriff's Office Maj. Greg Stallman. A deputy in Woodbury County since 1995, Stallman has worked in numerous divisions, as well as the drug task force. He has also had oversight over each division in the sheriff's office and currently oversees the jail and patrol divisions.

The four candidates were in Coralville in January for an open house, as well as an assessment center in which other law enforcement officials put them through written and verbal scenarios.

While Hayworth will make a recommendation on the next chief to the city council, his appointment is subject to their approval.

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