Former Des Moines Police Department chief Judy Bradshaw will be the new director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, Governor Terry Branstad announced yesterday. Bradshaw has been assistant director at the academy since last October. Before that, she broke several glass ceilings in Des Moines as the Police Department’s “first female lieutenant, captain, major and police chief.” When she started at the department in 1980, the only two women working there “both had filed harassment charges.”
I don’t understand why Branstad renominated Arlen Ciechanowski as director of the Law Enforcement Academy despite disturbing accounts over the last few years of a hostile environment for female staff and cadets. Fortunately, the Iowa Senate declined to confirm Ciechanowski during this year’s legislative session, prompting the director to retire and forcing Branstad to look for a replacement. Bradshaw will be much better positioned to change the culture.
Bradshaw said yesterday that her new position will allow her to share her experience and “perspective in what I think is good police work.” I’ve enclosed more background on her career after the jump. She should have no trouble during the Iowa Senate confirmation process.
Any relevant comments are welcome in this thread.
June 30 press release from Governor Branstad’s office:
Judy Bradshaw named Director of Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
Date:
June 30, 2015
Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today announced he has named current assistant director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Judy Bradshaw as the director of the academy effective tomorrow, July 1, 2015. Bradshaw, 56, was appointed as current director Arlen Ciechanowski retires from the Academy effective at close of business today.“The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy serves the important role of training Iowa’s peace officers and preparing them for their career of service,” said Branstad. “I believe Judy Bradshaw possess the leadership, knowledge, temperament and communications skills to effectively lead the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.”
The ILEA was created by an act of the Iowa legislature in 1967 with its purpose being to upgrade law enforcement to professional status. The specific goals were to maximize training opportunities for law enforcement officers, to coordinate training and to set standards for the law enforcement services.
“In interviewing Judy Bradshaw, I was impressed to learn more about her ability to bring individuals of diverse backgrounds together to better serve the community,” said Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. “Judy Bradshaw’s career of distinguished service and her years of law enforcement experience make her an ideal choice to lead the training of the next generation of Iowa peace officers.”
The ILEA, in addition to maximizing training opportunities for all Iowa’s peace officers, is responsible for providing basic and in-service training for all county and city jailers and Iowa telecommunication specialists.
“I appreciate the confidence Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds have placed in me as I transition into my new role of director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy,” said Bradshaw. “Our role at the academy is to prepare men and women to protect Iowans and I look forward to the opportunity to assist in teaching future peace officers best practices to effectively serve their communities.”
In her 35 years of law enforcement – most with the Des Moines Police Department – 27 years have been within management. She is a graduate of Ankeny High School and Drake University. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. For 10 years, Bradshaw taught Criminal Justice Studies at Grandview University and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).
The governor’s appointment of Bradshaw is subject to Iowa Senate confirmation. For more information on ILEA, please visit https://ileatraining.org .
Bradshaw’s bio from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy’s website:
Judy Bradshaw is a 34 year veteran of the Des Moines Police Department, starting out as a police cadet in 1980. As she climbed through the ranks of the department, she was considered a pioneer as the first women lieutenant, captain, major, and chief of police. Judy was the 60th chief of the department.
Judy has worked and supervised in every area of the police department, including commanding the detective bureau and the patrol services bureau. She developed numerous policies and programs over the course of her career that are still in place today.
Judy is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and also holds an associate degree in law enforcement from the Des Moines Area Community College, as well as a master’s degree in public administration from Drake University. She was elected by the American Legion as their 2008 National Police Officer of the Year.
Judy started with the ILEA in October of 2014 and serves as assistant director.