Saint Louis, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon named former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Daniel Isom as his new Director of Public Safety today in a brief press conference at the Wainwright Building in downtown St. Louis.
Nixon said Isom was “as credentialed” as a law enforcement officer in the state could be, and lauded the nearly 25 years of service Isom has given as a police officer. Isom has a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree in criminology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a master’s in public administration from Saint Louis University.
Isom served as STLMP Chief for 4 years from 2008-2013.
“Dr. Isom has experience and training in law enforcement that are almost unmatched, including as a top-level manager and as a front-line officer in one of the state’s largest police forces,” Gov. Nixon said in a statement. “We are fortunate that he will be using those skills on behalf of the department that works to protect the safety of Missourians.”
Isom said he was honored to take the position.
“Protecting the public is one of the most fundamental obligations of government, and I am honored to lead the Missouri Department of Public Safety at this critical time,” Dr. Isom said. “I thank Governor Nixon for this tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to building on the good work Director Lee and others have done to achieve a future of greater safety, security and trust for all Missourians.”
Isom will officially begin his duties on September 1 following the official resignation of current director Jerry Lee, who is retiring after nearly 3 years in the job. The announcement also comes on the heels of national criticism of the police response to the protests in Ferguson. Nixon was publicly criticized during the protests for, among other things, having no African American members of his executive cabinet. But Nixon says Isom’s race did not factor into his decision.
“His qualifications are incredible and his leadership over the years has been incredible,” Nixon told reporters. “He’s going to be a valued and important advisor to me.”
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
