DES MOINES, Iowa – U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr’s office awarded Iowa Department of Public Safety Special Agent, Ryan Kedley, the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service In Policing today. Special Agent Kedley, a member of the Division of Criminal Investigation’s Major Crime Unit, is one of only four investigators and detectives nationwide to be selected and recognized for exceptional work in the area of criminal investigations.
Believed to be the first DPS employee to ever receive this prestigious national distinction, Kedley orchestrated and oversaw one of the largest sexual exploitation investigations in Iowa state history. Kedley’s team discovered that for nearly 20 years, a local youth basketball coach had been secretly amassing thousands of videos and photos of his players and their friends. Investigators determined the coach had sexually assaulted at least 15 young men and victimized another 400, though the actual numbers are suspected to be much higher. The former coach is now serving a 180-year sentence in prison – the longest sentence possible for the charges he faced.
A native of Lowden, Iowa, Special Agent Kedley is a 13-year veteran of the DCI. He graduated as a member of the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s 33rd Basic Academy in 2007 and began his career assigned to the DCI’s Special Enforcement Operations Bureau in Clinton. In 2013, Kedley accepted a special assignment to work within the DCI’s Special Investigations Unit. Over the past six years, Ryan has been assigned to the Major Crime Unit within the Iowa DCI, working under the direction of Special Agent In Charge Richard Rahn. Throughout the course of his career, Ryan has acted as the lead agent and/or assisting agent in several homicide investigations, suspicious death investigations, sexual assault investigations, as well as large-scale child exploitation investigations.
“These individuals are distinguished in their service for field operations and criminal investigations – from investigating homicides to drug trafficking to sexual exploitation and assault – to making positive change in their communities through innovative outreach to local residents,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Their actions are a testament to what law enforcement officers contribute to our nation each day, keeping us safe from violent crime and building more trusting communities, and they are deserving of our collective thanks. I am pleased to honor these officers for their distinguished service in policing.”
“Special Agent Kedley’s relentless dedication to protecting the most vulnerable among us while bringing to justice those responsible for preying upon our community exemplifies the core mission of the Department of Public Safety. He is incredibly deserving of the award bestowed upon him and we are extremely proud to have him within our ranks,” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes the “exceptional work” individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
This year, the Attorney General’s Office received 214 nominations recognizing a total of 355 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. There were 39 states represented in the nomination pool, covering state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types. A total of only 23 recipients were selected to be honored from that pool.
The Department of Justice works closely with local law enforcement and strives to be a ready resource for them. The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing is just one more way the department can show its continued commitment to the profession and honor the men and women who so bravely serve it.
