Former central Iowa police chief pleads guilty to misconduct

Former central Iowa police chief pleads guilty to misconduct

Former central Iowa police chief Bill Daggett will avoid going to jail for felonious conduct in office and first-degree theft by taking a plea deal.

Daggett was charged in January, months after a state audit showed he collected more than $51,000 in improper payroll and compensation time payments.

On Monday, he pleaded guilty to one charge of nonfelonious misconduct in office in Jasper County Court. He was ordered to pay a $430 fine. As part of the deal, the state dismissed the theft charge.

Daggett admitted to failing to report using accrued sick time from the city of Van Meter when he was required to, while he also served the same role in Baxter.

His attorney, Joe Vogel, sent KCCI a statement: "To be clear, Mr. Daggett was not found guilty of theft or fraud of any type. The plea he entered was based upon a failure to report using accrued sick time from his employment with the City of Van Meter while working in the City of Baxter."

The Jasper County Attorney declined to comment.

Daggett was serving as the police chief and interim city administrator in Mitchellville at the time of the report. He resigned after he was charged in the case.

"He basically got a slap on the hand for stealing $50,000," said Elaine Webb of Mitchellville. "He is a crook. And what he has done to that town and all these other little towns that he's been to is wrong. Totally wrong."

The State Auditor's Office is currently performing an audit for the City of Mitchellville for the time period Daggett was employed there.

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