The City of Overland Park is proud to announce its next Chief of Police, swearing in Doreen Jokerst on Oct. 14.
Jokerst hit the ground running during her first week as police chief, touring City facilities and familiarizing herself with the Overland Park Police Department. Chief Jokerst started her first week by meeting with officers and scheduling visits with community groups. As Chief of Police, Jokerst now leads a department of 330 full-time employees, including 280 sworn officers.
“I’m truly humbled and excited for this position and to serve this community,” said Chief Jokerst. “The schools, the vibrant community, the inclusive environment, all of those things really resonated with me.”
City Manager Lori Curtis Luther shared the news of Jokerst’s hire in August, following a thorough process that involved input from community organizations, neighborhood groups, Overland Park police officers and residents to identify the key priorities for the department’s next leader.
Chief Jokerst holds a Doctor of Education degree in Leadership for Educational Equity, a master’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She brings extensive experience in public safety, leadership and community engagement, having served as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police at the University of Colorado Boulder for the past six years.
Under her leadership, the department became the first nationally accredited police department in Boulder County, Colorado.
“I think police departments nationally should never be resting on their laurels and should always be looking to improve,” Jokerst said. “What can we do better? Is there a better way? Is there a better policy? Can we learn from our peers or neighboring jurisdictions? And so I am constantly looking at self-improvement intrinsically but also through the department.”
Upcoming opportunities to meet the Chief
Chief Jokerst is taking time during her first month on the job to meet with members of the community. She is meeting with police officers, City staff, key community organizations and the community at large.
Stop by one of these upcoming events to say hello, or meet Chief Jokerst by watching the video below.
- Trunk or Treat with Police – 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 at City Hall, 8500 Santa Fe Drive
- Meet the Chief Open House – 6:45 p.m on Monday, Oct. 21 prior to the City Council Meeting at City Hall, 8500 Santa Fe Drive
And, keep an eye out for upcoming Community Policing events like Coffee with a Cop.
To learn more about the Overland Park Police Department, visit opkansas.org/Police.