Doug Scott, the Bettendorf Police Department lieutenant who leads the city’s Investigative Services Bureau, will become the city’s next police chief in April following the Bettendorf City Council’s approval of his promotion on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
“It is an honor to be able to follow in the footsteps of all the other great police chiefs who have served the City of Bettendorf,” Mr. Scott said in a city news release. “I am very fortunate to work for a department with such a strong culture, a team of forward-thinkers, and a technology-progressive environment. I am excited to continue that momentum as your next chief.”
Mr. Scott will be sworn in sometime in April. He will take over the department from Police Chief Keith Kimball who will retire on April 30 after more than 35 years with the department, the last seven of them as chief. His appointment came after an internal search.
“I have had the pleasure of watching Doug continue to grow both personally and professionally over the years, taking on every opportunity that came along,” Mr. Kimball said in the release. “He has learned from his experiences, various roles, positions, and supervisory assignments along with additional training and education, demonstrating proven leadership both within and outside the department.”
Mayor Bob Gallagher said “I’m very pleased that Doug has been selected as our next police chief. I’ve known Doug for decades and watched his daughter grow. I’ve known the family and I think Doug is an excellent choice for the next chapter of BPD.”
Mr. Scott comes from a family that has dedicated their lives to public safety, the city said.
A Quantico graduate
In fact, when Mr. Scott completed the FBI National Academy in 2024, he became the third generation of his family to graduate from the prestigious Quantico, Virginia, program. His father, who was assistant chief of police in Muscatine and a police chief in North Carolina, graduated from the program in 1997 and his great grandfather, acting police chief in Rock Island, did so in 1941. Lt. Scott also was the first Bettendorf police academy graduate in nearly 30 years.
The incoming Bettendorf chief graduated from Muscatine High School in 1998 and Baker College in 2005. He received his Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 2012 from Iowa State University and a Master’s Certificate in Criminal Justice in 2024 from the University of Virginia during his time at the FBI Academy.
Mr. Scott started his career with the Muscatine Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic in 2001. He joined Bettendorf Police in 2006 as a patrol officer. Mr. Scott moved up the ranks to sergeant assigned to the Special Operations Unit. He also was collaterally assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force. Following that, Mr. Scott was promoted to patrol lieutenant and then lieutenant leading the Investigative Services Bureau.
“Doug is committed and dedicated to making BPD better and the City of Bettendorf a safer place to live,” Mr. Kimball said. “I am excited for BPD and its officers as Doug takes on his new role as police chief and what the future holds for the department and the city as it continues to grow. I wish Doug the best of luck and know that the department will be in a good place when I leave.”
Taking BPD ‘to next level’
Mr. Scott, whose salary as incoming chief was set at $150,000, was selected by City Administrator Decker Ploehn, a former Bettendorf police chief, after an internal search. The incoming chief also was interviewed by the City’s Civil Service Commission before his promotion was unanimously approved by the city council Tuesday.
“We took this recruitment process very seriously and were very confident that we had talented and capable people within our own walls who could fill the important role of police chief,” Mr. Ploehn said in the release. “Doug is an outstanding employee and person. He will take BPD to the next level with his commitment to excellence, focus on community engagement and emphasis on teamwork.”
Policing is rapidly evolving, Mr. Scott said in the release.
“I see leading a police department as a two-part responsibility. The first part is taking care of our home – our department – meaning all the people inside of it. I believe when you take care of the people inside the department, they’ll take care of the people outside of the department – our community,” he added.
“The second part is staying on top of emerging technologies, crime fighting strategies, and identifying solutions for new challenges as they come our way. Paired together, we can accomplish great things for the safety of our city and the greater Quad Cities area.”
