About the Department

The Pella Police Department is staffed with 18 full-time sworn officers, 2 Reserve Peace Officers, 5 full-time Communications Specialists, 1 part time Communications Specialist, 1 full-time Administrative Services Manager, and 2 part time civilian members.

Pella is a city in Marion County, Iowa, located 40 miles southeast of Des Moines. Pella's population was 10,554 at the time of the 2021 U.S. Census. Founded by immigrants from the Netherlands, Pella is the home of Central College as well as several manufacturing companies including Pella Corporation and Vermeer Manufacturing Company.

Chief Shane McSheehy

Chief Shane McSheehyChief Shane McSheehy is a proud member of the Pella Police Department and a veteran law enforcement officer, beginning his career in 1993. He attended the Institute of Public Safety in Florida, where he graduated with honors in 1993. During his law enforcement career, Chief McSheehy has attended over 3,500 hours of professional development training. He earned his Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University and a Master of Science degree in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University. Chief McSheehy is a graduate of the 135th Administrative Officers Leadership Course from the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville and commissioned as an honorable Kentucky Colonel. Chief McSheehy completed the Executive Leadership Course through the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business.

Chief McSheehy formerly served as a tactical operator for 22 years with over 12 years as the SWAT Commander. Throughout his career, Chief McSheehy has served not only as a Field Training Officer, task force operator, and Traffic Homicide Investigator, but has also supervised each of these specialized units. He has served in the Criminal Investigations Division as a property crimes detective, narcotics investigator, homicide investigator, Detective Sergeant, and Unit Commander. 

Chief McSheehy has devoted much of his time in his career to training. He served as an adjunct instructor for the Lake County School Board and the Institute of Public Safety for 16 years. In addition to instructing new police academy recruits, Chief McSheehy also has instructed specialized and advanced training courses. He holds several certifications in training in areas of Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Active Shooter Instructor, Reality Based Training Instructor, and Taser. Chief McSheehy served as the Chief Operations Officer for U.S. Police Instructor Teams for 13 years. He has been involved in the tactical training and development of international police forces, as well as the dignitary and personal protection training of judicial, prosecutorial, and executive personnel. Chief McSheehy is an International Certified Instructor through the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IDLEST).

Captain Paul Haase

Haase, PaulCaptain Paul Haase began his career with the Pella Police Department in 2002. Prior to joining the Pella Police Department, Captain Haase was a member of the Iowa Army National Guard 186th Military Police Company beginning in 1996 and deploying to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Captain Haase has held many positions within the department including patrol officer, narcotics detective, internet crimes investigator, precision driving instructor, anti-biased trainer, and field training officer. Haase was promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant in 2011 and was promoted to Police Captain in 2020.

Haase earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from William Penn University, is a graduate of the School of Police Staff and Command at the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, and of the FBI National Academy session 284. 

Captain Haase currently leads the Administrative Services Division including the Office of Professional Standards, department training and policy development, internal affairs, and is the Public Information Officer.

Captain Haase also manages the departments' Community Oriented Policing projects such as the Holiday Heroes shopping program, Coffee with a Cop, Citizen's Public Safety Academy, and he manages the department's Facebook page.

Department Divisions

To learn more about the various departmental divisions within the Pella Police Department, click the tabs below or view our organizational chart (PDF).

  1. Patrol 
  2. Special Ops
  3. CIRTT
  4. GTSB
  5. History Project
  6. Reserve Officers
  7. K-9 Officer 

The Pella Police Department Patrol Division handles the following:thumbnail_IMG_2940

  • Patrols the city to detect and deter criminal activity and traffic violations
  • Answers calls for service
  • Investigates traffic accidents
  • Assists fire and ambulance crews
  • Enforces traffic laws
  • Provides animal control
  • Mediates civil complaints or disputes
  • Provides for safety and security at public events
  • Patrols school grounds
  • Conducts investigations of suspected criminal activity
  • Conducts interviews and interrogations
  • Develops and pursues investigation leads
  • Files charges and makes arrests