John Kory Hanna serves as the Chief of Police for the City of West Branch.  Chief Hanna’s responsibilities are the same as a Patrol Officer, along with managing the day to day operations of the Police Department and supervising the other Officers of the Department.

​

Chief Hanna started with the West Branch Police Department as a Reserve Officer in 2006.  Chief Hanna was hired full-time in September 2007 as a Patrol Officer.  Chief Hanna graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy’s 228th Basic Class receiving the Woodard Award for Highest Scholastic Record.   Chief Hanna has specialized in the areas of:  Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor, State of Iowa Reserve Officer General Instructor, ATF Post Blast Investigator, Criminal Intelligence, Advanced Interview and Interrogation Techniques.  Chief Hanna was promoted from Patrolman/Investigator to Sergeant in June 2012.  Chief Hanna was promoted from Sergeant to Chief of Police in December 2020.

​

Chief Hanna was also a member of the West Branch Fire & Rescue Department serving as a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician from 2002 to 2019.  Chief Hanna also has served nine years in the Iowa Army National Guard, being deployed in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in 2008 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a Combat Medic.  Chief Hanna is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Iowa Police Chiefs Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association.