Colonel Daniel Isom

Chief of Police

Colonel Daniel Isom is the city’s 33rd Chief of Police. He was appointed Chief of Police on October 6, 2008, 20 years after first joining the Department in August of 1988.

Chief Isom has served in patrol, investigative, training and administrative assignments during his tenure at the police department. He was most recently the Special Projects Assistant to the Chief of Police, responsible for the planning and implementation of all Department community-based initiatives.

After graduating from the Police Academy, he was assigned to the Eighth District, Mobile Reserve Unit and the St. Louis Police Academy.

In 1995, Chief Isom was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant he served in the Ninth District, Internal Affairs, Police Reserves, the St. Louis Police Academy and South Patrol Detective Bureau.

Chief Isom was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1998. As a Lieutenant he was assigned to the Fourth and Ninth Districts, Internal Audit Unit, Juvenile Division and once again to the St. Louis Police Academy.

In 2002, Chief Isom was promoted to the rank of Captain. In that role, he served as Commander of the St. Louis Police Academy, Sixth and Seventh Districts, as well as in the Internal Affairs Division.

Promoted to the rank of Major in 2007, Chief Isom worked as the Special Projects Assistant to the Chief of Police, a position he held until his promotion to Chief of Police.

Chief Isom holds a Bachelor, Master and a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He also holds a Master in Public Administration from St. Louis University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Forum Senior Management Institute.

Chief Isom is a progressive advocate for elevating the standards of professionalism for law enforcement and strengthening the relationship between the police and citizens. His policing philosophy is based on the founder of the modern police department, Sir Robert Peel, who stated almost 200 years ago, “The people are the police and the police are the people.”

Chief Isom currently serves on the advisory boards for St. Louis University's School of Public Service and the New Beginnings C-Star Treatment Center. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). He is also a coach for the Police Athletic League Track and Field Team.

Chief Isom, a lifelong St. Louis city resident, grew up in the Penrose neighborhood and attended St. Louis University High School. He and his wife Virginia have two children, Alexandria and Daniel.