During the Cedar Falls City Council meeting on June 20, 2022, the City Council approved the appointment of Craig Berte to Public Safety Director.
Berte has been part of the Cedar Falls Public Safety Department since 1991, serving as a Police Officer, Investigator, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Director/Assistant Police Chief, and Police Chief. He currently serves as the Acting Public Safety Director following the retirement of former Director Jeff Olson in March 2022. Berte is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology.
"I have served the City of Cedar Falls for nearly 32 years and I am humbled and honored to be appointed to the position of Director of Public Safety Services. We have an outstanding team of employees providing fire and police services to the City," said Berte. "My wife and I have raised our five children in Cedar Falls and I enjoy working every day to improve our community."
"Cedar Falls Public Safety will continue to make the best use of our citizen's tax dollars while providing effective and efficient fire and police services. We are proud to reduce our City's fire risk through an aggressive annual Fire Inspections Program and work to prevent and reduce crime utilizing technology and enforcement efforts targeting areas with the greatest potential for violent crime."
Berte will assume his new position on June 25. He will then be overseeing the hiring process for a new Cedar Falls Police Chief.
The City will keep the community updated on the selection of a new Police Chief as it progresses.