Leawood Police Departmen t 2021 Annual Report
2021 continued to bring many changes within the Leawood Police Department, most notably the retirement of Chief Troy Rettig. It is my distinct honor to have been selected as his replacement, and I very much look forward to building upon the accomplishments of the department that have resulted from his leadership and those before him.
The City of Leawood remains one of the safest cities in Kansas. Although there was an increase in the relatively low number of assaults/ batteries and robberies reported in 2021, our community remained free of homicides. In fact, according to the SafeWise.com 2021 report, Leawood was named the safest city in Kansas among cities with a population over 10,000. In the most recent report publicized by Alarms.org, Leawood was recognized for having the state’s lowest rate of violent crime. Likewise, the latest Kansas Crime Index released by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation revealed Leawood’s rate of violent crime offenses to be only .4 per 1000 residents.
Property crimes continued to gain much of the area’s attention throughout 2021. Even though burglaries in Leawood were down 31%, auto burglaries down 13%, and auto thefts lower by 23% the large number of these particular property crimes countywide continues to serve as a reminder for all of us to make sure our garage doors are closed and vehicles are locked when unoccupied.
Unfortunately, the number of vehicle crashes increased substantially in 2021 as compared to 2020 when COVID-19 initially caused a reduction in travel. The motoring public resumed getting out on the road again in 2021, and this is reflected in the percentage of crashes increasing by 38%.
Teamwork remains one of our agency’s values, and in the past year members of our department attended 59 public outreach events to meet and interact with the community. Our goal is to participate in many more in 2022. Dependent upon the status of the seemingly endless pandemic, we are planning to resume the department’s annual fishing derby in the spring; reviving the police department’s annual open house in the fall; and reinstituting the Citizens Police Academy.
The Leawood Police Department takes pride in the positive relationships we have developed and maintain with our citizens and businesses, and we very much appreciate this tremendous support as well as that of our city leaders.
On behalf of the women and men of the Leawood Police Department, I wish everyone a safe and healthy 2022.
Dale Finger, Chief of Police
Dale Finger was chosen as the department’s 10th Chief of Police in 2021. Focusing on the department’s values of Integrity, Teamwork, Service, Fairness and Dedication, Chief Finger leads the organization’s budgeted staff of 84 employees – 62 commissioned of fi cers and 22 civilians - that are divided into three divisions: Administrative Services, Operations and Support Services.
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Ne w Chief
Finger chosen as Leawood’s 10th Chief
The past year featured a number of changes in the department’s command structure, particularly the choice of Dale Finger to succeed Troy Rettig as Chief of Police in September.
Chief Finger joined the agency in February 2006 after more than 32 years with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, where he first started as a narcotics investigator. He was promoted to Narcotics Division supervisor after 15 years and a year later, in 1989, was named Associate Director, second in command of this state-wide agency. He joined the LPD Command Staff as a Captain/Division Commander and has supervised each of the agency’s three divisions prior to being chosen to replace retiring Chief Rettig.
“After stepping down from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation I wanted to continue my law enforcement career with another highly respected police agency. Being hired onto the Leawood Police Department in 2006 fulfilled that aspiration, and I am now so very honored at being appointed its next police chief,” Chief Finger said. “Our department has tremendous support from the community and its city leaders, and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve in this new role alongside the outstanding employees of the Leawood PD.”
Chief Finger has a bachelor’s degree from Washburn University and a master’s degree from the University of Kansas. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a 10-week executive training program in Quantico, Virginia.
Chief Finger is sworn in as the department’s 10th Chief of Police
Troy Osborn has his new Captain’s badge pinned on by his daughter, Taryn.
Corporal Matt Schroeder
Citizen Complaint Process
The Leawood Police Department welcomes citizen comments about the actions of its employees, both positive and negative. The people we serve are our customers and we are committed to our department values of Integrity, Teamwork, Service, Fairness and Dedication.
Not every police contact will completely satisfy those involved and this agency is committed to an open and impartial investigation of citizen complaints as a major means of improving our agency, personnel and operations. All complaints will be thoroughly investigated and promptly resolved. No one may be discouraged from making a complaint, even anonymously, as we take our obligation to be open to complaints very seriously and firmly believe that this is necessary to insure the integrity of the Department and its members.
A complaint will first be directed to a supervisor, who will clarify any portions of the complaint. This supervisor’s role is to document the facts of the incident and the basis for the complaint.
They may resolve the issue at this stage if it involves simply answering questions about our policies or providing information.
After the initial review of the facts, a complaint is forwarded to our Professional Standards Officer for investigation, which includes interviews with the complainant, officer(s), witnesses, any video of the incident and any other available evidence .
Upon conclusion of an investigation, the case will be sent to the command staff for review and final disposition by the Chief of Police. Complainants will be informed in writing of that disposition if they request it.
In 2021 Leawood Police Department employees had 35,186 contacts with the public we serve. Of all of these contacts, only 19 – or 0.054% - ended in a citizen complaint. These 19 complaints involved 30 employees with the actions of each employee judged individually.
2021 Citizen Complaints & Findings
Conduct Unprofessional (13 Complaints involving 22 Officers) Conduct/ Illegal Behavior (1 Complaint involving 1 Officer) Racial Profiling (5 Complaints involving 7 Officers)
The incident occurred, but was lawful and conformed to policies and procedures
The evidence is sufficient to prove allegations
Insufficient evidence to either prove or disprove the allegations
The allegation is false or otherwise determined to lack sound basis
To Serve While Protecting
Service is an important part of the job. The members of the Leawood Police Department are guided by five department values: Integrity, Teamwork, Service, Fairness and Dedication. These aren't just words, but arching institutions that can be seen in our employees' actions.
Throughout the last year there have been many examples of the service our employees provide the public - often on a daily basis - that don't involve crimes. At least one person took the time to call in and thank an officer for changing her flat tire, commenting "these are things police should not have to do, but I was very impressed with the kindness and caring attitudes of the officers." Others called in or wrote after being awoken to close a garage door left open overnight, let two dogs into the house after they were accidentally left outside,
One officer on a midnight shift patrol was nearly struck head on by an impaired motorist on 135th Street.
or just stopping to visit with some youngsters in a park and hand out a few stickers. During this period, officers responded to 1320 medical calls (three times performing CPR to help save a life), contacted the residents to close 921 garage doors left open, and stopped to assist 714 motorists.
During the winter storms in February 2021 with the ice, snow and plunging temperatures tested the mettle of everyone. Through it all our employees' actions continued to demonstrate our commitment to service .
Early in the morning on Feb. 11, Officer Nick Hoover responded to assist an 80-year-old resident in getting an important bill to the mailbox. She was hesitant to go through the snow and ice on her driveway, so Officer Hoover was happy to pick up her bill and get it to the Postal Service.
Battling the Elements Battling the Elements
afterwards.
"I wanted to send a note of thanks to the Leawood Police Department for your assistance with my wife this morning as her car was forced off of 435. Thankfully no one was injured and there was no damage to either vehicle. One of your officers helped to dig her out and she was able to continue to work safely. Unfortunately she did not get the officer's name as I am sure he was bundled up to deal with these extreme weather conditions. Please accept these words as our sincere thanks and please pass along to all who serve," wrote another e-mail.
"Protect and Serve" isn't just a catch phrase, it is something we strive to do everyday for the citizens of and visitors to Leawood.
SERVICE:
Polar Plunge – the Leawood Copsicles chose to willingly jump into the freezing waters of Shawnee Mission Park’s lake to collect funds to support the Kansas Special Olympics. From left, Jesse Nash, Tommie Eisenhut, Josiah Mort, Jordan Couturier, Anna Hill, Trey Richardson and Ethan Caldwell head back to land – and a heater – after their icy
Thank you cards – Prairie Star sixth grade teacher Emily LaBelle, center, delivered several dozen thank you cards written by her students to the men and women of the Leawood Police Department.
Sporting Goods – In September, employees at the Leawood Dick’s Sporting Goods donated several bags of balls that PD employees could take with them out into the community to start up a game.
TEAMWORK:
Teaming up with our citizens, whether to raise funds for those in need, provide new resources, or to provide extra sets of eyes in the community, is something that comes easily to our employees.
Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn couldn’t resist joining the crowd to see what it felt like to sit astride Officer Coby Shields’ Harley. Officer Christina Farquhar spoke to young ladies at a National Charity League youth event.
Officer Scott Frager found Troop 282 raising funds for a trip to Scout Camp.
DEDICATION:
Honor Guard – closing out the 2021 regular season, Curtis Rice, Mike Marchese and Cody Morse formed the honor guard to present the colors prior to the Chiefs’ 36-10 victory over the Pittsburg Steelers.
Phil Goff (left) and Kansas High Patrol Trooper Samantha Fank were two of the many law enforcement personnel who dedicated their time and energy to Operation Rudolph, an event to distribute gifts and good cheer over the holidays to disadvantaged youth in our
Officer Babalola and a group of Cub Scouts ham it up for the camera during a January 2021 tour of the Justice Center.
Officer of the Year
cer of the Year. I knew that a lot of officers here had done good police work this past year and had a positive impact on the department and the city,” Detective Jack Bond said of his award as Of
Det. Bond was nominated by his peers after playing a key role in solving a trio of high profile crimes, each of which reached beyond cult swatting case that began in late 2020 and involved a very technologically savvy suspect who used several different servers to make the calls through voice over Internet protocols (VOIP). The calls started with false food delivery requests and culminated in two reports of an armed disturbance taking place at a Leawood residence. Det. Bond obtained multiple subpoenas and search warrants which led him to a juvenile suspect in Illinois. He traveled to Illinois and worked with the Illinois State Police to serve a search warrant, which ultimately led to a confession for the Leawood swatting case as well as several anti-Semitic prank calls to a funeral home in Chicago and a synagogue in New York City. The prosecuting attorney in the case praised Det. Bond for "a remarkable job.
Bond also investigated an aggravated burglary in which the suspects distracted an elderly victim in front of her residence as another suspect snuck inside. Bond was given surveillance footage of the suspects as well as a tag on the suspect vehicle from a stop at a local convenience store. Following leads through the St. Louis area, he several subjects on social media matching those of our offenders. Working further, Det. Bond found out one of our suspects was wanted for a homicide in the St. Louis area. Using the same scheme, the suspect had entered an elderly person’s home, but when the victim found the suspect inside, a fight ensued and the suspect beat the victim badly enough that he died.
Finally, using computer forensics training he received through the US Secret Service, Det. Bond was assigned a cellular phone store burglary. He found similar phones to those stolen were pawned at an Eco-ATM and seized the phones. They were not from our burglary, but were from several other burglaries in the metro area. Bond was able to identify a suspect through social media ties with the person pawning the phone. Through diligence and perseverance in social media searches, electronic searches and interviews, Bond was able to identify suspects and clear cell phone store burglaries in Leawood and 10 other jurisdictions throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan area.
Civilian Employee of the Year
am beyond happy to be at a department that asks each employee to set new goals for themselves for the upcoming year,” Snooks said after receiving the honor. “Being acknowledged for my career efforts by my Chain of Command/Fellow Employees is incredible, but getting a big hug from my little girl and hearing her say “I’m so proud of you moma” is pretty fulfilling too.”
One of Snooks’ co-workers described how her positive attitude and the effort she puts into her job shows. within dispatch by stepping up to help lead/coordinate the training program for new communications of Patrol supervisor to make sure e-mails related to suspect/vehicle information shared on a metro wide intelligence list were also shared with She wanted to make sure dispatchers had the most up to date information, so it can be shared with of
In addition to her duties in dispatch, Snooks has taken over as the department liaison with the Community Blood Bank. several blood drives in 2021 and ‘always seemed to encourage folks to donate in order to meet/exceed the goals set for the blood drive,’ said a nomination. Leawood continued a three-year trend of increasing the units of blood donated, increasing this year’s total by more than 50% over
Finally, her co-workers believe Snooks truly views members of this department as family. She often decorates Dispatch or other work areas
This year she went above and beyond to help raise funds for another dispatcher’s daughter,
“I think it is easy to underestimate the amount of time and effort Rachel put into raising funds for the family and it was something that goes to
In addition to the recognition she received internally, Rachel Snooks was also nominated and eventually chosen as the City of Leawood’s
Andrew Bacon
Tommie Eisenhut
Scott Frager
Phil Gof f
Jeff Culbertson
Anna Hill
Isabel Lara
Karry Rood
Jerry Webb
ach quarter of 2021, the Leawood Police Department took the time to recognize one of its . cer of the Year, for his work on the electronic swatting case. This case involved numerous search warrants, including several in Illinois ed and charged with ed in threats made in New York and Illinois.
c contacts with ve self-initiated arrests; assisted with the summer intern program; was a role player at the regional police academy and participated in several Honor Guard events. Working in the cer to the Apartments at State Line and Villa Milano; volunteered for two community Coffee-With-A-Cop events; passed out safety fliers at local cer on a successful alcohol sales compliance
cer Jesse Nash. Jesse, who was assigned to the midnight shift this year, was recognized for his numerous contacts during July-September (269). He had 16 selfinitiated arrests, which included 9 drug arrests and 4 DUI arrests; played a key role in backing cer Parcels on a stop which led to a felony drug arrest; worked 33 hours relating to the STEP grant; worked Bike Patrol on two occasions during the summer months (after his midnight shift); volunteered to cover numerous shortages on patrol, including on his days off— and even found a
cer Isabel Lara, the department’s primary evidence clerk. Because of various promotions and transfers that took place this fall, a complete Isabel took the brunt of the workload of having to reconcile the property lists for every section as they were completed. With nearly 14,000 individual items in the property room there was a large amount of follow-up work to make sure it She did all this while still staying on top of her daily duties which included property intake, case clearances and lab submissions. During this quarter Isabel also ran another successful Drug Takeback event and was tasked with helping train a new employee in the property room. Finally, she always pitched in to help with other jobs that would come up from time to time due to
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Detective Jack Bond
Police Officer
Cody Morse
Police Officer
Jesse Nash
After announcing Communications Officer Rachel Snooks (left) as the city’s Employee of the Year, Mayor Peggy Dunn (right) stopped by the Justice Center to personally present Rachel with the award while she was working.
place that I am meant to be; I feel like I am truly heard and appreciated. Thank you for providing me the opportunities you have, which have allowed me to flourish,” Snooks said after accepting the award.
The department again received a AAA Platinum Community Traffic Safety Award. This marks the seventh year in a row that AAA has recognized the work of the police department, in cooperation with the public works and parks and recreation departments, for their efforts to educate, design and build, and protect pedestrians, bicyclists and the motoring public.
Hometown Hero
Communications Officer Naomi Kent was recognized by the Kansas City Royals in July at Kauffman Stadium in recognition of her work as a peer support volunteer both within our agency as well as for first responders across the Metro. She is also a trainer for mindfulness and meditation techniques and a mental health Crisis Intervention Team member.
Of fi cer Seth Hudson (top left) is presented the department’s Lifesaving Award by Chief Dale Finger in recognition of an incident in which Hudson started CPR on an unresponsive subject and continued to work with medical responders until a heartbeat was restored and the patient was transported to a hospital. Officers Tim Mais (bottom left) and Mark Chudik (bottom right) also received Lifesaving Awards during the year after starting CPR to help save a life.
“I choose to serve because it is my passion to protect those who cannot protect themselves. My mission in law enforcement is to positively impact the younger generation while striving to be an utmost example of a dedicated professional. As a kid I viewed police officers as watchful protectors and I believe it is my duty and personal honor to carry out this legacy.”
“I started my career 15 years ago for the fast cars, guns and excitement! I’ve stayed in my career for the challenge, friendships, and sense of purpose. Getting to know my community over the past ten years has created ownership. Our citizens’ safety and sense of well-being is why I serve. “
There are way too many reasons why I have chosen to serve in law enforcement. The top two reasons are being an officer allows me to be a role model for many who have no one else to look up to or are struggling and I am able to give a voice to the victims of crimes or the voiceless.”
- Anna Hill, Crime Analyst, serving since 2018
Jeremy Roberts, Police Officer, serving since 2018
cer, serving Since 2021
cer, serving since 2012
he Administrative Services Division is comprised of the Professional Standards, Property and Evidence, Records and
The division is staffed by four commissioned officers and 20 non-commissioned employees whose work is essential to meeting the high standard of service we provide for our community.
The Professional Standards Sergeant investigates all citizen complaints and also coordinates the hiring of new employees as well as the continued in-service training of current employees. Capt. Troy Osborn took command of the division upon his promotion in September.
cers returned more than 100 canines to their owners without
A complete inventory of the property room, including more than 13,000 items, was able to account for every piece of property and evidence as new barcode labels were files per the
• Dispatchers broadcast license plate reader ‘hits’ that resulted in 223 enforcement actions, often arrests of subjects wanted by Leawood or other agencies for
Incoming 9-1-1- Emergency Calls to Dispatch
Weed – 27 pounds of packaged marijuana was among the drugs and firearms seized from a Leawood home during a mul=-jurisdic=onal search warrant in March.
The Property Unit is responsible for managing all of the physical items seized cers. An audit in November of 2021 showed a total of 13,236 items that have been cataloged and stored in the Leawood Police Department’s property room. This total is never set, however, as items are often transported to the regional crime lab for further analysis (160 items last year) or disposed of by returning them to their
Records Unit Records Unit
Dog Days at the PD:
In addition to all of the work that they do, the members of the Records Unit are the hosts of the monthly Dog Days at the PD participants. Working with Great Plains SPCA each month, a dog up for adoption visits the PD for the day to socialize and get a chance to get away from the facility as well as to be seen by possible adoptees. Last year the department, after a short COVID break at the start of the year, hosted 8 dogs including the highly inquisitive Gordon (pictured manning the front window). We’re happy to report that each of the 8 was eventually adopted, including Archie who was adopted by Officer Phil Goff and his family!
Recruitment
Professional Standards Sergeant. Last year this position was staffed by Troy Osborn, until his September promotion, and David Winders. Together the two ran a continuously operating open process for police cer candidates as well as processes for a Records Specialist and two Communications Specialists.
ve newcomers to our family in 2021: Communications cers Steven Alcala, Mohammad Alkarmy, Jenna Reynolds and Jamal Wooten. In addition we welcomed back Police Officer
2021 Total Citations: 20,508 Highlights:
he largest and most visible of the department's many units, the members of the Operations or Patrol Division perform much of the publicly visible work of law enforcement in the City of Leawood. The division's 38 patrol officers are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to calls for service
Captain Kirt Yoder is the Operations Division Commander. He joined the Leawood Police Department in 1999 and served as a patrol officer, motorcycle officer and supervisor before his promotion to Captain in 2019.
• Conducting extra patrols due to the rise in auto thefts, Officer Ethan Caldwell caught one thief in the act on June 17th near 119th and Pawnee .
• On June 24th, officers responded to a report of shots fired near the city park. They ended up arresting a suspect who had shot into the creek and confiscated two assault rifles.
• On July 17th, a prolific auto burglar driving a stolen auto was captured going through cars at the Leawood at State Line Apartments.
• Four officers (Hudson, Hulse, Milum, and Alkarmy) completed field training, a total of 262 training shifts.
Patrol officers took the following off the streets of Leawood in 2021:
• Over 40 pounds of marijuana
• 1664 grams of THC edibles, wax and vape units
• 15 grams of psilocybin mushrooms
• 106 grams of amphetamines
• 1034 assorted controlled substance pills
• 43 firearms seized
Officers potentially face high-powered weapons doing their job. The AR pistol (above,) which fires the same bullets as military M16s, was seized after the owner decided to test fire it along the creek in the Leawood City Park.
The AK pistol was found during a vehicle search after a drug arrest.
Array of property – Officers Luke Milum, Aaron Gray and Cpl. Erik Butler review an array of items seized from an auto burglary suspect who was captured while fleeing on foot through the Leawood South subdivision. Among the items seized were drugs, several syringes and a stolen handgun.
Bank burglary – a quick response to an alarm by Patrol Officers foiled the late night burglary of the Wells Fargo bank in November.
Investigating car crashes are just one of the many tasks Patrol Officers can be called upon to do during their shift.
Additional patrols of parking lots and residential streets was a point of emphasis in 2021. While we obtained a 12.9% decrease from a year ago (down to 197 from 226 in 2020), too often unlocked cars or those with valuables in plain sight offered tempting targets to criminals.
Johnson County Mental Health coresponder Heather Mason, left, was an integral part of our department’s response to mental health calls, working alongside Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained officers like Emily Williams. In 2021, our department responded to 476 calls that had a mental health element. By the end of 2021, the Leawood Police Department had 34 of its 56 cers and six of our 11 dispatchers (54.5%) that have completed the 40-hour CIT program. All of our cers have completed at least the 8-hour Mental
2021 Calls Related to Mental Health: 1.3/day
2021 Suicide Calls
Support Services
he Support Services Division is made up the department’s Investigation Unit, Traffic Management Unit and DARE/SRO Community Education Unit. The officers who make up these diverse units were selected to receive specialized training and transferred to fill a position in this division after Capt. Brad Robbins was named the division commander in January 2020, after having previously supervised the Administrative Services and Operations Divisions since being promoted to the
2021 Community Events: 59
• Leawood Detectives working with several Missouri agencies served a search warrant that resulted in the seizure of more than 27 pounds of marijuana, several firearms and cash.
• Detective Bond led the investigation of a daytime burglary that identified the suspects who were traveling between multiple states to commit their crimes, including a burglary in St. Louis that ended tragically when the home owner confronted the suspects and was beaten so badly he passed away.
• After a break due to COVID, Coffee with a Cop returned at RevoCup in Town Center on May 15th. As a department officers attended 59 public outreach events in 2021. The busiest month was October when we participated in 18 different events to meet those we serve .
• The Traffic Unit completed 61 traffic speed surveys surveying the speeds of 1,041,540 cars and spent time daily in several of the 53 traffic complaint zones, including all 7 school zones.
• Traffic officers joined the SROs in schools to pass out pedestrian and bicycling safety tips as well as to show students how the lessons they are learning are used in law enforcement.
School Resource / Community Education Officers
SROs ChrisAna Farquhar and Timehin Babalola prepare themselves for 2021’s First Day of School .
SRO Timehin Babalola presented a check to Mission Trail Elementary Principal Debbie Bond in appreciaAon for the school’s parAcipaAon with the Leawood Police Department in the Booster to Belts educaA on program. Corporate sponsors including State Farm Insurance and AAA supported the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office and individual officers in presenAng this safety program to elementary students across the state.
Community
Community Events
44
Law Enforcement Lessons Taught
10 Schools Served
1,523 Students
251 Graduates
Officer Andrew Bacon visited several Leawood schools in the fall to show students how math applies to his job investigating crashes.
In 2021 officers investigated 426 noninjury crashes, like this pick-up truck crash, as well as 86 additional crashes involving injuries.
Honoring the Fallen
Members of Cub Scout Pack 3010 again honored law enforcement officers, particularly those who lost their lives in service to their communities, by erecting an honor tree in the Justice Center lobby over the holidays.
Capt. Kirt Yoder (right) was the organizer of the second annual Kansas Law Enforcement Ride for the Fallen in May. The ride brought together nearly three dozen riders to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty started, ficngly, at Mike Mosher Pkwy and Blue Valley Pkwy in Overland Park and conAnued to the Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the grounds of the state capital in Topeka. Mike Mosher Parkway had been recently renamed in honor of Overland Park Officer Mike Mosher ader he was killed in the line of duty in May of 2020.
Leawood Honored Two Retirees in 2021
With liGle fanfare, two long-Ame members of the Leawood Police Department said goodbye to the agency as they reAred from law enforcement.
Corporal Ron Hulsey reAred on March 15 ader serving 20 years with Leawood and a total of 26 years in law enforcement. Ron joined the Leawood Police Department in 2001 a worked six years in Salina, KS. In recogniAon of his past experience as a detec transferred from the Patrol Division to assist in the Ali Kemp murder invesAgaA remained with the invesAgaAon unAl its successful conclusion with the arrest of a suspect in 2004. Ader returning to the Patrol Division, Ron provided experience to a number of young officers who were now filling the ranks of the department. He received a Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs AssociaAon Bronze Award for Valor in 2007 for his acAons in capturing a bank robbery suspect. That same year he was one of several Leawood officers recognized for responding to the Ward Parkway acAve shooter event. In 2011 Ron returned to the InvesAgaAons Unit for another three year rotaAon as a detecAve. Ron was promoted to Corporal in 2016 and served as a Patrol and AdministraAve Corporal unAl his reArement.
“I would like to thank the department for giving me the opportuniAes it has over the past 20 years. I truly feel that I have had the honor to work with some of the finest officers I have ever met,” Hulsey said.
Chief Troy Recg reAred on Sept. 20 ader serving six years as the agency’s 9th Chief of Police. Troy first joined the Leawood Police Department in 1993 and ader aGending the Johnson County Regional Police Academy he was assigned to the Patrol Division. Six years later he was promoted to Corporal and in 2000 was promoted to Sergeant and had the experience of leading a Patrol crew as well as the Traffic Unit and serving as the department’s Professional Standards Officer. Troy joined the department’s command staff in 2006 when he was promoted to Captain. A year later, ader compleAng the FBI’s NaAonal Academy leadership school, he was promoted to Major/ Deputy Chief. In September of 2015 he was chosen to succeed John Meier as Chief. During his tenure as Chief, the city was consistently recognized as one of the safest ciAes in Kansas; joined the NextDoor social media plaoorm to beGer communicate with its ciAzens, introduced digital AckeAng and a drone unit; and further leveraged technology with the establishment of the CAPTURE (Community and Police Team Up to Record Evidence) program to coordinate the sharing of home security and doorbell video of criminal acAvi Aes.
“I feel more than blessed and appreciaAve to have spent the last 28+ years here,” Recg said in an address to the department. “There has never been a day I wanted to work somewhere else. That is 100% because of the people I was able to work with. Thanks to all of you for the ride – it has been a great one filled with more posiAve memories than I can count and could have ever hoped for.”
Dale Finger,
presented Ron
with a shadow box that included his Corporal’s badge, his ribbons and a flag flown over the US Capitol. The gift from his co-workers recognized Ron’s 26 years of dedicated service in law enforcement.
Chief Troy Rettig, Retired
Corporal Ron Hulsey, Retired
Chief Troy Rettig, left, took a final photo with his command staff –
Dale Finger, Kirt Yoder and Brad Robbins.
left,
Hulsey
