Cedar Falls Announces Public Safety Director Candidates

The City of Cedar Falls has announced the final candidates for Public Safety Director following the retirement of former Director Jeff Olson in March 2022.

A total of seven candidates completed the initial application for the position. Each candidate was then required to answer a questionnaire regarding their experience, department goals, and background. Five completed this requirement.

The Public Safety Director Selection Committee, which is comprised of Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green, Mayor Pro Tem Simon Harding, Administration Committee Chair Kelly Dunn, and City Administrator Ron Gaines as well as the City Department Directors, selected Craig Berte, Lynn (Al) Fear Jr., and Mark Howard to move forward following the application and questionnaire review period.

The three candidates will next go through interviews with the Selection Committee. The City will continue to provide updates on the process to the community as it moves forward.

Meet the Cedar Falls Public Safety Director Candidates

Craig Berte

• Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA)
• Police Executive Leadership Graduate Program, Southern Police Institute (Louisville, KY)
• Command Sergeant Major, Army/Army National Guard: 1986-2012
• Police Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Director/Assistant Police Chief, Police Chief, and currently Acting Public Safety Director; Cedar Falls Public Safety: 1991-Present

Lynn (Al) Fear Jr.

• Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Fort Hays State University (Hay, KS)
• School of Police Staff and Command, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety (Evanston, IL)
• Director of Mobile Medical Stimulation; University of Iowa: 2021 - Present
• Guardian Training Services, Director of Operations/Founder: January 2022 - Present
• Police Commander, Grant Funding Coordinator, SWAT Team Medic and Lead Trainer, Lead Instructor for Regional Police Academy, Sergeant of Patrol Division; Cedar Rapids Police Department: 1995 - 2020
• Police Officer; Coralville Police Department: 1995 - 1999

Mark Howard

• Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA)
• Sergeant, Iowa National Guard: 1986-1999
• School of Police Staff and Command, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety (Evanston, IL)
• Police Officer; Waverly Police Department: 1997-2007
• Police Officer, Lieutenant, Public Safety Captain, and currently Acting Police Chief; Cedar Falls Public Safety: 2007-Present

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