As the City of Johnston continues to grow and develop, the need for public safety members is essential to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors. The Johnston Police Department is proud to announce the hiring of Officer Dustin Runge. Mayor Paula Dierenfeld swore Officer Runge into his new position during the City Council meeting held on Monday, August 7.
Dustin is a Des Moines native who received an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University and will complete his Bachelor’s degree later this fall.
Officer Runge has been an Iowa certified police officer since April 2016. He began as a reserve police officer with the City of Dallas Center in the spring of 2011. He continued in this capacity while working for Drake University until he was hired full-time by Dallas Center in fall 2015. In January 2017, he left Dallas Center to join DeSoto Police Department when Dallas Center elected to contract their law enforcement services with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Dustin is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
“We are fortunate to have Officer Runge join the Johnston Police Department,” said Police Chief Dennis McDaniel. “In previous positions, Dustin really brought the community together through his community policing efforts, so I look forward to seeing the strides he will make as a member of our team.”