Administration

The IGH PD is an engaged and progressive law enforcement agency serving all who live, work in and visit our safe, vibrant and growing community. We have an authorized strength of 40 sworn officers (2018) and six non-sworn full-time staff members, who manage the department’s records and administrative support functions.

As a group, members of the department are highly educated professionals who receive regular advanced training focused on skill enhancement and professional development.

Our department is committed to the use of evidence-based best practices in the provision of police services. With the support of city leadership, the department employs a wide range of cutting-edge technologies to improve service delivery, enhance operational efficiency, and aid in the measurement of outcomes. While the department uses a wide array of modern investigative and crime detection practices, our predominant goal is the prevention of crime. As a department, we are wholly invested in maintaining the safety, uniqueness, and livability of Inver Grove Heights.

Meet our staff

Chief & Command Staff
	Chief Melissa Chiodo Police Chief Email Chief Melissa Chiodo was hired to lead IGH PD in 2019 after 23 years of experience in law enforcement with the City of Minneapolis. Before beginning her career as a patrol officer, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from St. Catherine University in St. Paul. She went on to serve as a sergeant in investigations and patrol, lieutenant in investigations and patrol, and commander in special crimes and internal affairs. Chief Chiodo earned a master’s degree in criminal justice and police leadership from Concordia University in St. Paul, and she was a logistics coordinator for the City of Minneapolis during the 35W bridge collapse and the Republican National Convention. She was also the logistics Chief for Super Bowl LII and the Incident Commander for the 2019 Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium. Chief Chiodo led the COVID-19 emergency response in IGH and co-led the response to the 2020 civil unrest in Dakota County. She is a guest speaker at events and trainings throughout the region and was featured in the PBS documentary Women in Blue in 2021. Having grown up in International Falls in far northern Minnesota, she was drawn to a leadership position in a small city. Chief Chiodo’s priorities for IGH PD include fair and impartial policing, training in de-escalation, outreach with youth and under-served communities and building safer neighborhoods through community policing initiatives.
	Josh Otis Administrative Commander Email Commander Otis oversees the daily operations of the administrative and support services division. The administrative and support services division consists of four civilian staff. Under his command and control, Commander Otis is responsible for the department’s day-to-day administrative duties, as well as the operations of support services, including the collection, management, recording, reporting, release, and storage of department records. This is all accomplished by following the Minnesota historical commission rules, State of Minnesota reporting requirements, court orders, subpoenas, public disclosure requests, and other federal and state reporting requirements. His command responsibilities also include oversight of the department’s internal affairs, data practices, grant management, policy and procedure review, fitness and wellness program, department technology and communications, and alarm program. Commander Otis began his career with IGH PD in 2001. He rose through the ranks serving in a wide variety of assignments. He has served in command-level positions since 2012.
	Dennis Haugland Commander, Patrol Division Email Commander Haugland oversees the daily operations of the patrol division. The patrol division consists of six patrol sergeants and twenty-four patrol officers. Under his command and control, Commander Haugland is responsible for the department’s patrol operations, which consists of providing police services to the community 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. These services include in-progress crimes, medical responses, crisis calls involving psychological/emotional issues, traffic enforcement, motor vehicle crashes, disputes, and general crime reports. His command responsibilities also include oversight of the department's body-worn cameras, mobile video recorders, event coordination, community policing and crime prevention program, police reserve and police explorer programs, and SWAT. Commander Haugland began his career with IGH PD in 2005. He rose through the ranks serving in a wide variety of assignments. He has served in a command-level position since 2018.
	John Daniels Investigations Lieutenant
	Adam Wiederhoeft Patrol Lieutenant