The Marshalltown city council has determined that Acting Police Chief Jack McAllister will stay in that post until Police Chief Lon Walker returns from active duty with the U.S. Army.
For the last two weeks, the council was contemplating changing the city ordinance to list requirements for the police chief position to include a four-year college degree. That led to speculation that McAllister would not be allowed to remain as acting police chief, since he has an Associate of Arts degree, and 28 years of police experience.
After Walker left in September for an undetermined length of time, Assistant Chief McAllister was temporarily named to the chief’s post. A survey of the police department indicated they preferred McAllister as opposed to hiring someone from outside the current staff.
The first reading of the ordinance change was on the council agenda but was not put into a motion to adopt, effectively terminating the proposal.