Exterior front view of the West Des Moines Law Enforcement Center building with the American flag flying in front.

Department History

The West Des Moines Police Department has changed a lot over the last 100 years. In 1893, this area was a small railroad town called Valley Junction. It was renamed West Des Moines in 1938. Since then, we have grown from a town of 300 people protected by one marshal to a city of about 73,000 people protected by a full police force.

Our First Homes

In the early 1900s, the police worked on the second floor of a small building in Valley Junction. In 1953, the department moved to a larger building nearby that had five rooms and a jail. By 1972, the Police and Fire Departments moved together into a new Public Safety Center at Valley West Drive and Ashworth Road.

As West Des Moines grew, the department needed more space. By the late 1980s, the old building was overcrowded. After years of planning, construction began on our current home on Mills Civic Parkway in 1990. The building was finished in the spring of 1992.

The Law Enforcement Center Today

Our current station sits on 6.5 acres of land and was designed specifically for police work and public safety. The building has two levels:

  • Upper Level: This area is open to the public during regular hours. It houses the Chief’s office, Investigations, Neighborhood Services, and Code Enforcement.
  • Lower Level: This area is used for Patrol operations and storing evidence.

Need Help After Hours?

If you visit the station at night, on weekends, or during holidays, you can use the direct-line phone outside the front door. This phone connects you instantly to the Westcom Dispatch Center to request help.