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.
Celebrating 10 Years of Service: The Lawrence Police Department’s Patrol Service Dog Unit
Laura McCabe LKPD Communications Manager
Meet Mack, Shadow, and Taz, alongside their handlers, Corporal Kevin Henderson, Officer Josh Doncouse, and Officer Austin Twite. They’re officially 10 years old—the team that is.
Over the past decade, the Lawrence, Kansas Police Department’s Patrol Service Dog (PSD) Unit has made an immense impact on the community, apprehending hundreds of suspects and sniffing out a lot of dangerous drugs before they could cause harm.
To date, the unit has seized approximately 87.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 11 pounds of cocaine, 4.5 pounds of heroin, half a pound of fentanyl, and 938 pounds of marijuana.
A Vision of Proactive Policing Corporal Kevin Henderson, who was instrumental in establishing the PSD Unit, says his motivation was to help prevent harm: “One of my driving forces was to take a more proactive approach in removing controlled substances
from the streets before they could cause the tragic outcomes I’ve personally seen over the years.”
In addition, K9s have been a game changer when it comes to safe arrests and reducing officer risk.
“I’ve seen firsthand how just the presence of a K9 can saves the lives of both suspects and officers,” Henderson says. “When officers announce the K9 is on the scene or a suspect hears the dog bark, many times they surrender
peacefully. Our K9s have helped us de-escalate situations and safely take even the most dangerous suspects into custody without any use of force whatsoever.”
A Community-Loved Program
Beyond law enforcement, the PSD Unit has become a beloved part of the Lawrence community. The team regularly participates in presentations at schools, scout groups, and retirement communities. You may have even encountered them at local events or heard tales on social media about the retired K9, Cheeseburger—who became a community favorite.
How it Began
The story of the PSD Unit begins in Pipe Creek, Texas, at the Hill Country Dog Center. It was there the team began selecting K9s for their diverse roles. Henderson explains, “The dogs undergo various tests to identify desirable traits for their chosen discipline— whether it’s narcotics detection, explosives, or patrol functions.”
The goal was to find dualpurpose dogs that could perform multiple tasks and maximize the unit’s efficiency and effectiveness.
“We knew we couldn’t afford to have a dog limited to just one task,” says Henderson. “Our K9s need to be versatile.” This philosophy led to the unit creation of Patrol Service Dogs—K9s that work with officers who also work a standard patrol shift. The dogs are deployed, only as needed, to assist in apprehending suspects, detect controlled substances, or other tasks.
The team returned from Texas with the department’s first two dogs, Kai and Cheeseburger. Once back in Lawrence, the officers
(L to R) Officer Joshua Doncouse and K9 Shadow, Corporal Kevin Henderson and K9 Mack, Officer Austin Twite and K9 Taz
Officer Austin Twite training with K9 Taz
LKPD Chief of Police
K9 Mack waits for Corporal Henderson’s next command.
Adam Heffley LKPD Deputy Chief
Since 2020, you can see the most noticeable drop comes in property crimes, falling from 4,631 in 2020 to 3,806 in 2024. There is also a slight decrease in person crimes. Group B crimes show an increase from 1,215 to 1,687.
Law enforcement professionals also work to understand the meaning behind the numbers. Sometimes a change in crime statistics can correlate with staffing changes, population changes, or just fewer people reporting criminal activity. It’s important to look for trends in combination with other changes. Even the weather can show sharp increases or decreases in criminal activity. Crime can increase in the spring and decrease during frigid months.
LKPD works to guide progress not only through crime numbers but also in the way we interact with members of the community who find themselves involved in the criminal justice system. The goal is always to prevent crime by partnering with professional agencies in the community, educating people on what can decrease the chances of becoming a crime victim, and just getting to know our neighbors. Once a crime does occur, it’s essential to fol-
low up and provide resources.
Perceptions of safety can vary by race, socioeconomic status, and gender, so impartial police training is required at LKPD. Some of the more emotionally difficult crimes involve domestic and sexual violence, so tracking our referral rate to community-based resources is important, and using civilian professionals within the department helps ensure it’s done using industry-specific best practices.
Lt. Graduates from National Academy
Laura McCabe LKPD Communications Manager
Congratulations to Lieutenant Amy Rhoads, who returned to duty during Women’s History Month in March after becoming the 1st LKPD female commander to graduate from the FBI National Academy.
Lt. Rhoads was one of 30 women (244 officers total) who graduated from the Academy’s 293rd session, based in Quantico, Virginia.
Nationally, women make up about half the U.S. population, but only about 12% of police officers. And, only about 3% of executivelevel positions in law enforcement are held by women.
The FBI National Academy is a 10-week program focusing on advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training.
Rhoads not only successfully completed the session, but her peers elected her to serve as their section’s representative.
The class included members from 48 states, the District of Columbia, and 24 countries.
If you’re inspired by Lt. Rhoads’s story and want to explore becoming a part of the LKPD, check us out at: www.joinlawrencepd.org.
As we work to achieve our shared goal to be a community where all people feel safe and secure with access to trusted public and community-based safety resources, the Lawrence Kansas Police Department keeps track of our progress through several measurements. Here, we begin with crime. Nationally, crimes are separated into several different categories called Group A Person, Property, and Society Crimes and Group B crimes. (See Crime Statistics 2020-2024 chart and Group A Crimes First Quarter 2025.)
One of the main goals of connecting people who experience domestic violence with community resources is to assist people in making the necessary changes to avoid the pervasive cycle of domestic violence.
Sometimes, just because a person calls 911, an officer response isn’t needed. Thanks to our partnership with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Government Performance Lab, we’re working with the foremost experts to
Crimes Against Society Drugs, Drug Paraphernalia, Obscene Material, Gambling, Weapons Violations, Prostitution
Group B Bad Checks, DUI, Drunkenness, Trespassing, Disorderly Conduct, Family Offenses, Liquor Violations, All Other
increase our ability to respond to calls with alternative resources. It’s not only more efficient but also better service for situations that may not call for a law enforcement officer.
Throughout this and future Lawrence Journal World quarterly reports, you’ll see charts that show some of the indicators we watch to check our progress so we can continually work to police our community the way we all believe it wants to be policed.
A Look Inside the LKPD Basic Recruit Academy
Laura McCabe
LKPD Communications Manager
Chief Rich Lockhart has a clear vision for the Lawrence Kansas Police Department (LKPD): “We want to police Lawrence the way Lawrence wants to be policed.”
He also says the most efficient and effective way to achieve that goal is to train incoming officers, right here in town.
“The LKPD Basic Recruit Academy is more than just a place to learn policing—it’s a strategic investment in the department’s future
and in all who call Lawrence home,” says Lockhart.
LKPD’s training center, just off Wakarusa and Bob Billings, is where that’s done. The building is equipped with classrooms, areas for physical training, and specially designed rooms where instructors can create life-like training scenarios.
Corporal Ian McCann, a member of the training unit, emphasizes the advantages of local training.
“It allows us to hold recruits to a high standard, integrate them into the culture and expectations of the Lawrence community, and provide specialized, individualized training in the city they will serve.”
This community-focused training wasn’t an option until the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) approved LKPD’s inhouse training program, and its first students graduated in 1978. (see picture)
Policing in the late 1970’s
Former LKPD Police Chief Ron Olin says the law enforcement profession was going through a lot of change at that time and the department took advantage of a federal grant program aimed at upgrading law enforcement capabilities and training beyond report taking.
Olin says specialized training helped officers on patrol become a member of the community searching for resolutions. “This required LKPD officers to be trained to conduct follow up investigations; understand and make referrals to outside agencies such as mental health experts; facilitate interventions by other city, county or state enforcement departments; or take other initiatives to solve citizens’ problems,” says Olin. He says that’s when LKPD set out to become a center of advanced training for law enforcement in Kansas.
LKPD Exceeds Minimum Training Requirements
Today, LKPD’s Basic Recruit Academy exceeds KLETC’s minimum training standards, running 19 weeks and totaling approximately 740 hours—beyond the state-required 560 hours.
( See LKPD Academy Curriculum Hours graph.)
Fair and Impartial Police Training is a mandatory part of the program, along with weekly testing mandated by KLETC. Lawrence trainers also incorporate daily quizzes to reinforce key concepts.
Corporal McCann says, “These
• Stronger Community Integration Recruits develop deeper ties to Lawrence, making them more invested in the city they serve.
• Higher Retention & Recruitment Officers trained locally start with an understanding of the city’s policies, culture, and expectations.
• More Efficient Readiness Unlike state academy graduates, LKPD-trained officers are already familiar with department procedures and the city of Lawrence.
• Continued Professional Development The academy supports ongoing training for all officers, ensuring they stay current on law enforcement standards throughout their careers.
quizzes help ensure recruits retain critical information and build upon foundational knowledge over time.” That foundation translates into officers who integrate into the department and community more quickly than other graduates, who must still learn local policies and procedures upon returning.
“Officers trained in Lawrence already know Lawrence. They’re able to hit the ground running sooner than state academy trainees who have to learn internal policies, expectations and culture when they return – in addition to learning policing in a fast-paced city,” says McCann.
When those new officers graduate, training continues through the department’s Field Training Officer Program. Each is paired with a trained officer for a minimum of 16 weeks allowing a gradual transition into their new career to help create a safe and secure city.
By training officers locally, LKPD upholds higher standards, fosters stronger community ties, and ensures recruits are ready to police Lawrence the way Lawrence wants to be policed.
“Local training is a lot of work on the front end, but worth it,” says McCann. “It’s about building a well-prepared, community-oriented police force that reflects Lawrence’s values.”
Swearing in of the 48th Basic Recruit Academy on April 14, 2025. The Academy is underway now.
LKPD’s first local academy along with other recent graduates and leaders in 1978. (Back, L to R) Don Gardner, Catherine “Mattie” Born, James Winn, Darrel Stephens, Dave Davis, Chief Richard Stanwix, George Wheeler, Greg Hudson, Steve Frink, Richard Nickell. (Front, L to R) Mack Pryor, David Cook, Peggy Cobb, Ed Brunt.
began the Kansas Highway Patrol’s K9 Basic School, a rigorous 10week training program offered twice a year at no cost to law enforcement agencies.
The Lawrence Police Department’s K9s have come from various countries, including the Netherlands, Poland, and Mexico.
Henderson notes, “People often ask if it matters whether a K9 is male or female, and it doesn’t. We’re focused solely on finding the dog that performs the best.” Most K9s are Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, and Dutch Shepherds, known for their intelligence and agility. Today, all of Lawrence’s K9s are Belgian Malinois, and they are all male.
If you spot a dog on the streets, you’ll notice they wear the same ballistic vests as those worn by our officers for protection. The key difference lies in the cost. Each vest is custom-made to fit the dog while allowing them to move freely to perform their rigorous duties. Thankfully, the vests, which cost about $2,000 each, are donated by an organization called K9 Vests Midwest. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.
generously provides the food for the dogs.
Getting to Know Mack, Shadow, and Taz
Mack, the largest of the bunch, weighs in at a hefty 90+ pounds. Shadow, the fastest, has won medals
Detective Kimberlee Nicholson Radio: #466
Hired: 09/16/2007
What is your superpower?
My superpower is my memory, which some of my colleagues describe as photographic. I have the ability to recall faces and names with ease, and intriguingly, I also remember license plate numbers with remarkable accuracy. I just like to think I’m like an elephant who never forgets.
Tell us a weird fact you happen to know for no reason.
The phobia of the sound of people chewing is known as misophonia.
What would be your walk-up song?
Easy. My walk-out song has
been and always will be “All of the Above” by Maino featuring T-Pain. During my time as a patrol officer, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to participate in the Guns and Hoses Boxing event, which supports SAFE, and this song was my anthem as I made my entrance to the ring. I know every word and will sing it aloud if it is playing.
What is your favorite place in Lawrence?
Orange Theory Fitness. It’s my one hour a day I get to block out the world, not think about anything and just see how far I can push myself. Growing up I was a powerlifter in high school, I spent most of my free time at a gym. As an adult, working out at OTF has become my personal oasis.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
What I find most rewarding about my job, though it may sound cliché, is the opportunity to solve crimes. Whether it’s a violent offense or a simple shoplifting incident, there’s no greater satisfaction than uncovering that one piece of evidence that can break a case wide open. I take great pride in moments when a criminal believes they have escaped justice or goes to great lengths to conceal their identity— only to hear that inevitable “knock knock knock… police department.” It might not happen immediately, and sometimes it takes years, but they all hear that knock eventually. Being able to provide victims with closure is the driving force behind my dedication and hard work.
in regional K9 games for his speed. And Taz, the newest addition, is the youngest of the trio.
The dogs live with their handlers, becoming members of the family, and they love going to work each day.
Corporal Henderson is also a certified trainer in both patrol and detection, ensuring that the PSD Unit maintains its high standards through weekly training sessions. Henderson also now serves as a certified judge for the Kansas Highway Patrol’s K9 certification process, assisting with evaluations of over 60 K9 teams across the state each year.
An Invaluable Asset to the Community Looking back, Henderson reflects on the profound impact the K9 unit has had. “Having the ability to quickly deploy highly trained K9s has made our community safer and our officers more secure,” he says. “The presence of these skilled PSD teams has proven to be an invaluable asset to the Lawrence
Police Department and to the people we serve.”
As they celebrate their 10-year anniversary, the Lawrence Police Department’s Patrol Service Dog Unit continues to make a difference in the lives of the officers and the residents they protect. Here’s to many more years of service, safety, and success.
If you’d like to make a cash donation to the program, the Lawrence Police Foundation accepts them through the Douglas County Community Foundation at https:// bit.ly/LawrencePoliceFoundation.
Scan to donate to the Lawrence Police Foundation
Congratulations, Lieutenant Amy Rhoads!
The Lawrence Police Foundation is proud to recognize Lt. Rhoads for her outstanding achievements at the FBI National Academy. Elected by her classmates as Section Leader, Lt. Rhoads’ dedication to service and commitment to excellence provided great national representation of not only LKPD, but also the city of Lawrence, Kansas.
FBI Director Kash Patel hands Lt. Rhoads her diploma at graduation from FBI National Academy Class 293.
K9 Mack staring intently at his favorite reward toy.
Corporal Henderson and K9 Mack at the LKPD Training Center
K9 Taz waiting for a command inside a patrol vehicle
Lawrence Police Department Begins Returning Stolen Items
Laura McCabe
LKPD Communications Manager
On Easter Sunday, the Lawrence Kansas Police Department received several auto burglary and theft reports, from various locations around the city. One of those victims called dispatch Monday morning to say he electronically tracked his stolen AirPods to a motel in north Lawrence and wanted assistance with retrieving them. Had he not done that, officers may not have discovered thousands of dollars of stolen merchandise inside the room. Along with the stolen merchandise, officers recovered a stolen vehicle, several stolen license plates, approximately 35 stolen forms of identification, and various amounts of illegal drugs.
Detective Evan Curtis and Officer Charles Smyser have been meticulous-
ly bagging, marking, and cross-referencing reportsworking to connect people with their items. One such item was a Simon & Patrick guitar, which was returned to its rightful owner, “Outlaw Jake”, just in time for Saturday’s Downtown Lawrence Music Crawl. Regarding the guitar, Detective Curtis stated, “It’s this type of outcome, where it is not only an expensive item but something so sentimental, that makes this difficult job worth doing,
but it’s going to take some time.” The department has also returned a car stereo, subwoofer, numerous electronics, shoes, a lawn chair and much more. Detectives will continue working to identify victims and reunite them with their stolen property. If you had your property stolen from your vehicle or residence between 04/18/2025 and 04/21/2025, and have yet to make a report, please contact the non-emergency dispatch at 785.843.0250.
Safe and Secure Key Progress Indicator 7:
Sgt. Drew Fennelly
My neighbor has police at her house all the time and I never see anything posted about it on your social media accounts, but I see a lot of information about other incidents. Why?
There are several reasons we may not post about an incident on our social media accounts. For one, we respond to 200300 calls for service every day, so it’s not possible to review and summarize each incident for public consumption. Also, some incidents we can’t talk about. By law, we are obligated to keep details of domestic violence and sexual assault incidents confidential to protect the victim. We also protect juveniles involved in criminal activity. Our public affairs team focuses on incidents that impact members of the community. We work to keep people informed and empower them with the information they need to feel safe and secure. The primary way we share that information is through our Facebook page. You can also find information about significant events that may be ongoing on our X page, where we provide time sensitive updates that may be of interest to the public. Finally, if you have questions, please ask. It’s not always clear which incidents the public wants to know about. We will respond and provide the information we are able to share.
What are the traffic violations an officer looks for most?
Officers are first concerned with dangerous driving behavior that may harm innocent people and lead to crashes, so stop sign violations, signs of impairment, and excessive speeding are top
Percentage of Investigations resolved with an arrest, notice to appear, or referred to prosecutor for charging.
LKPD measures the number of investigations resulting in an arrest, notice to appear in court, or referral for prosecution as a progress indicator in equity and inclusion. The numbers include cases with
Total 27
Total 63
no possible law enforcement action such as death investigations, cases where victims choose not to participate in the judicial process, or missing persons investigations where the person returns home, etc.
They are not clearance rates. To move closer to the goal the department will identify demographically disproportionate numbers and provide communitybased education and solutions.
Investigations Unit Q1 = 36.6% Patrol Unit Q1 = 42.6%
Safe and Secure Key Performance Indicator 9:
Percentage of outreach provided by systems-based advocacy to sexual and domestic violent per reported incidents monthly for Q1: January 84%, February 92%, March 106%
This progress indicator helps determine how well LKPD is working to support victims. The department’s advocacy team partners with communitybased support and service organizations with the goal of reducing instances of sexual and domestic violence and assisting victims through their recovery. Assessing a victim’s future risk and providing education and support is critical in the effort to eliminate the cycle of domestic violence.
priority. Not coincidentally, these are also the easiest violations to spot. Speaking of easy to spot, driving without your headlights on at night is virtually a guaranteed pull over. Not only is it unsafe, but it’s also usually a surefire way for an officer to spot an impaired driver. We also look for cars with children who are not properly restrained, people not wearing seat belts, and people texting! People sometimes wonder why we don’t write more texting and driving citations, but they’re very difficult to spot and to prove in court. This may come as a surprise, but when drivers see a police officer nearby, they usually put the phone down. To issue the citation, officers must establish the driver wasn’t using their phone to get directions or make a phone call. Just don’t do it!
If I get pulled over for a broken taillight or another equipment violation, is there anything I can do?
Equipment violation citations, or “Fix-It Tickets,” come with an interesting caveat. Here’s a tip. They will be dismissed if you prove to the court that you’ve rectified the situation and had it verified by an officer within 72 hours of getting the citation. Additionally, if you’re pulled over for an equipment violation, such as a broken headlight or burned-out taillight, ask the officer about “Lights On!”. It’s a program funded through the Blue Santa charitable organization that provides a voucher to a local repair shop to have your equipment issue fixed for free. In this circumstance, you won’t even receive a citation, just a written warning and the opportunity to get the repair made.
Partnerships and collaboration with community organizations will assist in this work along with officer training efforts such as deescalation training and fair and impartial police training.
Total 705
LKPD to Launch Innovative “Lowrider” Summer Partnership
Laura McCabe
LKPD Communications Manager
You’ve heard of lowrider cars, but what about lowrider bikes?
The Lawrence Police Department is partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence (BGCLK) to help local teens build one for themselves.
The program is already thriving in Olathe. The Leadership Lowrider Bike Club was established in 2017 within Olathe Public Schools by Erik Erazo, executive director of student and community engagement at the district.
When Erazo proposed expanding the program in Lawrence, Police Chief Rich Lockhart was on board from the start.
“One of the most effective ways to prevent teens from heading down a bad road is to limit idle time with something productive that interests them,” says Lockhart. “Throw in some positive role models, and you see great outcomes.”
Erazo is excited about adding police officers to the mentor mix.
“Many young people often only interact with police officers in negative or enforcement-based situations,” says Erazo. “Through this program, they have the opportunity to engage with officers in a constructive, supportive environment, helping to break down barriers and build trust.”
The police department already had a longstanding relationship with the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, so the fit was clear.
“Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens,” says BGCLK CEO Lace Maltbie. “We’re opening doors to new possibilities, and this
program can equip teens with skills that could give them an advantage in their future careers or hobbies,” says Maltbie.
The Lowrider Bike Club focuses on mentoring youth through bikebuilding workshops, encouraging teamwork and creativity among participants. By collaborating with the Lawrence Kansas Police Department, they aim to provide a safe space for teens to express themselves and develop new skills.
The partnership between LKPD
and BGCLK will fund up to 10 customized lowrider bicycles through donations and officers will volunteer their time.
Teens will also benefit from expert guidance from the Diverse Ones Car Club. With years of lowrider car experience, the local group will volunteer their time and skills in design work.
“Teens also learn valuable technical and communication skills while building positive relationships with law enforcement,” says Chris
Jones, BGCLK Director of Teen Services.
“A key component of the program is its focus on strengthening community ties and trust,” says Chief Lockhart. “We want our young people to get to know us early, so they don’t hesitate to call if their safety is at risk one day.”
Projects with the Lowrider Bike Club have already been featured in local events, such as the Rev It Up Hot Rod Street Fest, held each September in downtown Lawrence.
The lowrider application process begins in May. The Lowrider Bike Club will meet this summer at Peaslee Tech. Members of the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence who are enrolled in the summer program can express their interest by contacting the center.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, visit www.bgclk.org.
Photos by Brown Boy Media
Mental Health Response Teams
By Corporal Matthew Howell
The Teams:
• LAWRENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S MENTAL HEALTH TEAM (MHT): Responds to mental health-related calls, conducts follow-ups, attend Behavioral Health Court, and collaborates with the City of Lawrence Homeless Solutions Division to help ensure the safety and security of outreach teams.
• DOUGLAS COUNTY MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM (MRT):
Provides on-site crisis services through Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.
Why it matters: Dedicated mental health teams ensure individuals in crisis receive the right care, by the right person, at the right time, enhancing community safety and trust. This initiative reduces stigma, increases access to care, and fosters a supportive environment.
How it works: These teams connect with mental health professionals and social workers to address crises involving mental health, substance abuse, and behavioral concerns. This collaborative approach reduces arrests and improves outcomes.
The outcome:
• Focus on safety and crisis de-escalation
• Improve access to care and support
• Reduce stigma surrounding mental health
• Prevent incarcerationBuild community trust
• Lessen the burden on emergency services.
Lawrence Kansas Police Department is committed to openly communicate information to help everyone feel more safe and secure. Knowing where officers are repeatedly called to assist community members, can help department leaders work to address
As the weather warms and we all enjoy the outdoors, it’s essential to stay vigilant and involved in your own personal safety.
• Keep Your Doors Locked
If you’re working in the yard, always ensure your front and garage doors are closed and locked. Don’t forget to lock the back door when you’re in the front yard or when you head inside.
• Be Cautious of Home Improvement Scams If a contractor or salesman shows up
unannounced, don’t engage in business with them. Lawrence city workers from our Municipal Operations Department are easily identifiable. Request identification from any worker if you’re unsure.
Number of calls handled by service alternatives to traditional public safety response.
The Lawrence Kansas Police Department, along with county partners, continue to increase the number of alternative responses to calls for service. The data is a key performance indicator of LKPD’s commitment to community members to appropriately use resources efficiently and effectively.
In 2023, the Lawrence Kansas Police Department and Douglas County emergency response
agencies were selected to participate in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Government Performance Lab. It’s a consortium designed to support city and county leaders in developing, improving, and expanding alternative responses to 911 calls. Community Service Technicians and Mental Health experts respond to appropriate calls unarmed, but with the expertise needed to achieve a more successful outcome.
