Jeremy Sprague, MPA

Law Enforcement Leader

ABOUT ME

With over two decades of experience in law enforcement and eighteen years in the fire service, Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague is a highly skilled public safety and emergency services administration leader.

Throughout his tenure in supervisory and management roles, Jeremy has successfully led critical incident responses, emergency management initiatives, and crisis resolutions. He possesses a unique talent for identifying problems and implementing practical solutions to streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency.

Jeremy's expertise also extends to developing innovative employee safety and wellness programs that foster resilience and well-being. He is nationally known and locally engaged in his work with first responders.

As a natural leader, Jeremy is passionate about first responder wellness and finding solutions to help our nation's first responders. These wellness solutions have been shown to improve employee morale, reduce citizen complaints, and increase employee satisfaction.

"The well-being, resilience, and health of first responders are essential for their success. When first responders are healthy and happy, it leads to better community relations and service. Prioritizing the wellness of first responders benefits both the individuals themselves and the communities they serve."

- Jeremy Sprague, MPA

Jeremy is a police lieutenant for the Des Moines Iowa Police Department. He has served as a patrol officer, detective, hostage/crisis negotiator, and peer support coordinator. He was promoted to sergeant and has managed patrol operations, 911 communications center, records management, traffic crash fatality investigations, and sex abuse investigations. He was again promoted to the rank of lieutenant and currently operates as a patrol commander overseeing 6 sergeants and 66 officers. He also retired after almost 20 years in the fire service as a part-time fire lieutenant supervising an engine company, medic-squad, and directing the fire training academy.

In 2008, Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague embarked on a pioneering mission within the Des Moines Police Department, designing and launching the department's very first peer support team. This groundbreaking initiative marked a significant milestone, serving as a model for peer support teams throughout the entire Midwest.

In 2011, Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague was thrust into a life-saving situation when he responded to a car crash involving four teenagers trapped in a burning vehicle. Alongside fellow officers, he displayed immense bravery, rescuing two teenagers from the fiery wreck. In recognition of his valor, Jeremy was awarded the Medal of Valor by the State of Iowa and the Des Moines Police Department. He was further honored in Washington DC as a recipient of the National Association of Police Officers Top Cop-Honorable Mention Award. See the story here.

The year 2016 brought profound tragedy, as the Des Moines Police Department tragically lost three officers in the line of duty, alongside two other officers within the metropolitan area. Among them, two Des Moines Police Officers fell victim to a devastating car crash caused by a drunk driver. In another incident, a Des Moines police officer was ambushed and killed in his vehicle. Jeremy took charge of coordinating and managing the peer support response to these heart-wrenching losses. In his role, he also offered unwavering support to department employees, served as a compassionate family liaison, and skillfully led multiple crisis teams in providing solace to the first responders affected by these horrific events. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in extending support to other metro first responders and their families during these trying times.

Since the inception of the peer support team, Jeremy has tirelessly worked to expand and enhance its programs. He devised a comprehensive suicide awareness and prevention training program that benefited the entire police department. Recognizing the significance of officer wellness, he introduced a proactive wellness initiative, including yearly visits with psychologists, now established as policy. Jeremy also undertook the restructuring of the chaplain program, drafting a new policy to better serve the spiritual needs of the department. Jeremy also wrote new state legislation to protect first responders seeking help. This legislation was signed into law by Iowa Governor Terry Brandstad in 2015 thus protecting communications between peers and first responders seeking help.

Following the tragic line-of-duty deaths of Des Moines Police Officers, Jeremy identified the need for a permanent police memorial for the fallen heroes. He not only conceptualized the memorial but also actively served on the memorial committee, collaborating with corporate donors to bring the project to fruition.

In 2017, Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague embarked on a mission to establish the Peer Support Foundation, aimed at promoting first responder wellness and peer support across the state of Iowa. His dedication has extended beyond state lines, offering training and consultations to first responder agencies across the nation. He has been a sought-after speaker at national events, including the Fraternal Order of Police Wellness Summit, the National Concerns of Police Survivors Wellness Conference, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Law Enforcement League. His extraordinary efforts were recognized when he was honored with the Red Cross Hero of the Heartland Award, a testament to his unwavering support for first responders in Iowa. Jeremy's dedication also played a crucial role in implementing a statewide Line-Of-Duty Death Response Team for executive leadership, offering vital support, resources, and consultation during challenging times. In 2023, Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague was asked to be a part of a national documentary called Residual. This documentary focuses on how stress, anxiety, cumulative trauma, and PTSD are affecting our nation's police officers, firefighters, EMT personnel, and other first responders.

In the tumultuous year of 2020, amid the challenges posed by COVID-19 and nationwide riots, Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague once again stepped up to the plate. He organized a Family Support Evening, leveraging community resources to provide crucial information and group debriefing sessions with licensed mental health professionals to alleviate the concerns of officers and their families.

Jeremy has continued to enhance the Des Moines Police Department through various initiatives. He proposed, researched, procured bids, and oversaw the purchase of IFAKs and tourniquets for all officers. His staffing study for the 911 communication center led to the hiring of additional dispatchers, significantly improving the staffing levels in the 911 center. Jeremy proposed an armed subject response policy change based on PERF recommendations, promoting safety for both officers and the community. He also played a pivotal role in proposing a new policy for the employee recognition program and served on the solutions committee, collaborating with external consultants to enhance departmental efficiencies.

Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague was assigned to oversee the Family Conflict Section of the police department. Jeremy revamped the unit and aimed to be proactive in investigating and convicting child predators. Jeremy secured funding and established an internal network for digital evidence storage of child sex abuse material (CSAM), ensuring compliance with the Adam Walsh Act and addressing chain-of-custody evidence concerns. Under his leadership, the section proactively seeks out sexual predators through online undercover operations.

Jeremy's extensive experience encompasses patrol, high-risk operations, and command leadership roles. In 2018, during a high-speed chase involving an armed and suicidal subject, he showcased innovative thinking by directing officers to use a beanbag round to shatter a vehicle window, ultimately defusing a dangerous situation with the subject surrendering safely to officers.

Throughout his career, Jeremy has navigated various critical incidents, including officer-involved shootings, child fatalities, and hostage/barricaded subjects. He served as the incident commander during severe flooding in 2018, leading rescue operations that saved lives and ensuring public safety.

In 2022, Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague exemplified his dedication and leadership once more when he was one of the first officers to respond to an active shooter situation at a charter school in Des Moines. Jeremy led a team through the school, searching for the shooter and rendering aid to shooting victims. His swift actions along with other officers, resulted in the arrest of the shooter several blocks away and prevented further harm to those injured inside the school.

Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague possesses expertise in managing security for large-scale events and prominent venues, including overseeing police operations for events held at the 15,000-capacity Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, as well as handling specific security and safety operations for various events such as Drake University athletic activities, large community athletic events, dignitary protection for presidential candidates, numerous concerts, and other special events throughout the city of Des Moines. He has consistently taken on a leadership role in ensuring the safety and security of all participants during these diverse occasions.

Jeremy Sprague's two decades in law enforcement have been marked by a diverse range of experiences and leadership opportunities. His unwavering commitment to the well-being of first responders and his innovative initiatives have left an indelible mark on the Des Moines Police Department and the broader first responder community.