Chiefs Chat

Welcome to the first City Beat of 2026. It’s been a year since we started publishing and I hope you enjoy getting to know your police department and seeing the incredible work the officers and professional staff are doing to keep our community safe.
This edition will tell the story of a decades old sexual predator identified using genetic genealogy, the same technology that identified the Golden State killer. For more than twenty-five years, the suspect evaded law enforcement and through the work of Detective Amy Price, he was finally identified and charged. It is a true crime story that is an example of how technology and dogged detective work brought justice for the survivors of this horrific crime.

You all know that I love a crazy idea and you are going to read about how Officer Anthony Harvey Jr. had one that he thought might just work. Officer Harvey wondered if he could change the way troubled youth look at police officers in a similar way his mind was changed when he was a teen. In Harvey’s case, it was a school resource officer. This idea involves Harvey mentoring youth at the juvenile day school. As I listened to him tell me about the program, I was so impressed with his heart for service to a group of young people that many in our community don’t even think about.

We just finished up the College Football Bowl season so what better time to introduce you to our very own Corporal Maurice Henry. What does one have to do with the other, you say? Well, Cpl. Henry is a former KU Football player who played for the Jayhawks in the 2008 Orange Bowl; a game the Jayhawks won. Cpl. Henry takes on the dreaded five questions so you know it will be good. His answers will be just as sweet as the Orange Bowl win, at least in my opinion.

February 26 marks the return of the Douglas County Valor Awards. This is an opportunity to recognize the heroic work of the first responders in our county and provides an opportunity for the community to not only eat dinner with these heroes but also to thank them. Mark your calendars and get your tickets to this special and memorable event.

As always, give us some feedback on what you think of our stories about your police department. Thank you for the honor of being your Lawrence Police Chief.