Chief’s Chat

Have some tin or aluminum you’re looking to get rid of? Drop it off at the police station—we’d love to take it off your hands! Why, you ask? This year marks the 10th anniversary of our Patrol Service Dog (PSD) program, and we’re celebrating.  

 A gift made of tin for the tenth anniversary represents the enduring strength and flexibility to change through a decade of commitment.   

Our PSD program has certainly adapted over time to fit our community’s needs and has grown to include three amazing dogs, and one of our handlers is now even a judge. I hope you’ll read about it here.  It’s just one of the many stories we’re excited to share with you this quarter. 

Did you know LKPD trains its own officers? It’s a tradition that began in the late 1970s, and now, 48 academy classes later, it’s still going strong. In this report, we take a look back at the history of police training in Lawrence—and why we believe it’s just better here. 

Another reason to celebrate: Lt. Amy Rhoads has graduated from the FBI National Academy’s executive-level program. Her accomplishment highlights the growing role of women in law enforcement and how their leadership is transforming the profession for the better. Learn how Lt. Rhoads’ experience will benefit our department, our community, and her career. 

And here’s something really cool: you’ve heard of lowrider cars, but have you heard of lowrider bikes? We’re partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Douglas County and The Diverse One’s Car Club to bring a new creative opportunity to kids in our community. The idea came from Erik Erazo, a Lawrence resident who runs a similar program in Olathe. With Erik’s help, we’ll help local youth build their own bike-based works of art this summer. 

Also in this report, you’ll find new charts and visuals. Using what we call Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s), you can see how we are using the City’s Strategic Plan to guide and inform our work. We’d love to hear from you. Let us know what information you’d like to see in future editions. 

Finally, a quick note: this quarterly report will now take the place of our former annual report. Why? Because we believe in keeping our community informed more often, with timely updates and more frequent communication. Instead of once a year, you’ll now hear from us four times annually. 

Thanks for reading and thank you for being a part of our community.