Before a press conference made the official announcement, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department had already updated their website naming Colonel Daniel Isom as its new chief.
Isom joined the Metropolitan Police Department on August 29, 1988 and after twenty years of service, he was appointed Chief of Police today (October 6, 2008) to become the city’s 33rd Chief of Police.
“Col. Isom’s experience in the field of law enforcement and his lifelong dedication to this department has prepared him for the position of chief,” said Col. Chris Goodson, president Board of Police Commissioners for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. “The board believes that in this new role, Col. Isom will continue to provide the level of leadership that the St. Louis residents have come to expect.”
Colonel Isom has served in patrol, investigative, training and administrative assignments during his tenure on the police department. He was recently the Special Projects Assistant to the Chief of Police, responsible for the planning and implementation of all Department community-based initiatives.
After graduating from the police academy, he was assigned to the Eighth District, Mobile Reserve Unit and the St. Louis Police Academy.
In 1995, Colonel Isom was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant he served in the Ninth District, Internal Affairs, Police Reserves, the St. Louis Police Academy and South Patrol Detective Bureau.
Colonel Isom was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1998. As a Lieutenant he was assigned to the Fourth, Eighth and Ninth Districts, Internal Audit Unit, Juvenile Division and once again to the St. Louis Police Academy.
In 2002, Colonel Isom was promoted to the rank of Captain. In that role, he served as Commander of the St. Louis Police Academy, Sixth and Seventh Districts, as well as in the Internal Affairs Division.
Promoted to the rank of Major in 2007, Colonel Isom worked as the Special Projects Assistant to the Chief of Police a position he held until his promotion to Chief of Police.
Colonel Isom is an adjunct professor at Harris- Stowe State University and an instructor at Forest Park Community College where he teaches criminal justice, criminology, and public safety courses.
He holds a Bachelor, Masters and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a Masters in Public Administration from St. Louis University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Forum Senior Management Institute.
Colonel Isom currently serves on the advisory boards for St. Louis University School of Public Service and New Beginnings C-Star Treatment Center. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). And, he is the coordinator and a coach for the Police Athletic League Track and Field Team.
“The board has complete confidence and trust in him and he has the support of the entire board,” Goodson said.
