City of Johnston issued the following announcement on August 24.
The Johnston Police Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Community Affairs Coordinator Josh Kennedy. He will assist with improving and maintaining relationships between the police department and the community while connecting resources to people.
“As the population grows within our community, so do the needs for effective wrap-around services,” said Police Chief Dennis McDaniel. “This new position is a reimagined approach to ensuring the public has an ambassador within our department to connect our community policing philosophy with available social, human, and mental health services in the greater Des Moines area. In Johnston, the police department serves a larger role than just law enforcement. With a dedicated full-time position, we can continue to develop strategic priorities that build constructive community-police partnerships, and Josh is that perfect fit for us. He has already assembled lasting relationships with students, families, resource providers and stakeholders.”
Josh Kennedy has lived in the Greater Des Moines Area for 20 years. He worked with the Johnston Community School District for the past 14 years and Woodward Academy as a Youth Counselor. In that time, Josh has had the unique opportunity to see families from both the Juvenile Justice and Education System’s perspectives. He has thrived in multiple work settings and created service projects in and around the communities he has served (i.e., Brothers2Brother, Aggression Replacement Trainings and youth sports). Mr. Kennedy’s previous professional experiences allowed him dynamic opportunities to help set up services and assistance to help families and students, whether mental or physical barriers affecting them. In many cases over the years, he has seen students grow and overcome obstacles that may not have been able to on their own without assistance.
“I look forward to expanding the positive influence of this department and our relationships within the community,” said Community Affairs Coordinator Josh Kennedy. “My past experiences fit well with this position, and I am eager to continue building upon what I have established in Johnston. Working for the police department will allow me to expand upon those needs and service gaps I saw in my previous positions.”
When he isn’t working, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife and two children at various sporting events they are involved in.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Johnston
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