A Report to our Community: 2022

A REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY: 2022

We’re committed to serving and protecting the Lenexa community.

A MESSAGE FROM LENEXA CHIEF OF POLICE DAWN LAYMAN

Happy New Year! I hope you and your family enjoyed a safe and joyful holiday season. As I reflect on this past year, there are accomplishments to be proud of and reasons to be optimistic about what is ahead for our department and the community.

In 2022, we invested in serving Lenexa better through the use of new technology, feedback from our advisory board and employee retention. Here are some of the accomplishments I am especially proud of:

The Police Community Advisory Board held its first meetings as a formalized City board, and saw the appointment of two new members, bringing the total to seven. This Board meets quarterly where other members of my command staff and I provide updates on important department news, such as use-of-force statistics and updated policies. These meetings have also provided an important avenue to discuss current events as they relate to the training and preparedness of our officers. For example, in light of the horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, we explained to the board how our department trains for such events. Board members were even invited to attend and observe an active shooter training we hosted at a Lenexa elementary school.

We added the SPIDR Tech notification system that connects callers to our dispatch center with automated follow-up text messages containing pertinent information about their call. Learn more about this on page 4. We also invested in the Grappler Police Bumper, a tethering system affixed to one of our patrol cars that helps safely bring police pursuits to an end by entangling the tire of a fleeing vehicle. In the six months we have had this tool, we have used it six times to safely apprehend fleeing vehicles that otherwise

Community Advisory Board Members

Eric Arner

Jeff Boone

Geoff Garcia

Milton Jeffrey

may have gotten away.

In September, we broke ground on the new Lenexa Justice Center at Prairie Star Parkway and Britton Street. See page 5 for more details, including the anticipated opening.

As 2022 drew to a close, our department was at its highest staffing level in our history. While some police agencies around the country are facing critically low staffing shortages, I am proud that the reputation of our department and the tremendous support from our community and elected officials continue to attract professional candidates who wish to join our department. I am committed to continue working with the Police Department and City of Lenexa officials to ensure that we remain an attractive agency to work for.

I hope you will find this annual report helpful in understanding some of the crime and safety-related activities in our community over the course of 2022. I am proud of the dedicated men and women of our department who strive daily to provide exceptional service so that Lenexa remains a safe place for all people to live, work and visit.

Thank you for your continued support.

Rachel Lauren-Parker Mulvihill

Alice Batista

Vanessa Vaughn West

Learn more about this advisory group at Lenexa.com/PoliceBoard. Dawn M. Layman DLayman@lenexa.com 913.477.7300

BY THE NUMBERS

42,043

2 2,606 arrests VEHICLE BREAK-INS

19,721

officer-initiated activities includes anything that doesn’t first go through dispatch, such as traffic stops, vehicle checks, pedestrian checks and motor assists.

5.4 minutes 8.2 minutes

average emergency response time

average non-emergency response time

9Unithas three canines.

184

canine deployments

UNIT

Public service officers (PSOs) are typically the first people you see when entering the Police Department lobby, connecting you with the appropriate services, handling record requests and performing other clerical duties. They are trained to take police and crash reports, handle property and evidence for cases, perform car seat inspections and fingerprinting services. PSOs are staffed in our public lobby 24/7 and we currently have 13 full-time on staff.

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Professional staff, previously referred to as civilian staff, support and assist in the essential everyday function of the Police Department. We have nearly 50 full-time professional staff members working for the Lenexa Police Department as animal control officers, crime analysts, custodians, dispatchers, equipment technicians, information specialists, investigative specialists, technical specialists, public service officers, and video and security systems technicians.

“I grew up in the Kansas City area but had moved away for 17 years. When I decided to return, I thought of Lenexa and how much I really liked the community and what it had to offer. In researching the Lenexa Police Department, I learned that Lenexa PD is a strong organization that invests in its employees and the community. I feel fortunate to be a part of the City and cannot wait to see the changes in store for the coming years.”

CONNECTING RESIDENTS WITH TIMELY INFORMATION DURING EMERGENCIES

Last year, we started using a new communications tool, SPIDR Tech, to connect residents with automated follow-up text messages once they’ve contacted dispatch for an emergency.

They send messages about the status of officers on the way to the call, steps that need to be taken by the caller in preparation for the arriving officers, and the case report number of the incident. Additionally, the caller could receive further automated text messages or email messages days after the incident that keeps them updated on the

status of the investigation, the outcome of a case and safety resources related to their incident.

This feature only applies to certain types of calls for service. Automated messages will not be sent to calls reporting violent crimes in progress, crimes involving domestic violence, or if the caller has requested not to be contacted by officers.

We are the first agency in the state of Kansas and the Kansas City metropolitan area to use SPIDR Tech.

LaDonna Myers, Public Service Officer II

PSOs are one of nine professional staff positions within the Lenexa Police Department.

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE FUTURE

LENEXA JUSTICE CENTER

With captivating designs on paper and shovels in the ground, construction started in fall 2022 on the Justice Center at Prairie Star Parkway and Britton Street.

The new facility for court and police will enhance security, training, communications, dispatch, records and evidence storage. The staff project team and architects from FinkleWilliams have honed an exterior design that uses the topography of the site while addressing project goals of security and approachability for the public.

Operations will continue out of the current Public Safety Complex until construction is complete. In late 2023, the City plans to study potential preliminary designs for the current Public Safety Complex, which will include civic uses like a new fire station.

The Lenexa Justice Center is expected to open in spring 2024. Keep up with the project’s progress at Lenexa.com/ JusticeCenter

“The building’s design will make community members feel welcome and will serve our police officers and professional staff extremely well,” said Police Chief Dawn Layman. “The design exudes our philosophy and culture inside and out. This is an exciting time for the Lenexa Police Department.”

MUNICIPAL COURT

CONCEPTUAL RENDERING

CONCEPTUAL RENDERING

CONCEPTUAL RENDERING

COMMUNITY POLICING

A healthy relationship between the Lenexa Police Department and the community we serve is vital to the success of policing. Without trust from our community, we could not effectively interact with individuals, carry out investigations or prevent crimes. We believe that community policing occurs spontaneously every day by our officers — from stopping to chat with citizens outside the Lenexa Public Market to an impromptu game of basketball with kids at a local park. We are committed to continue creating intentional opportunities and programs to be involved in the community.

CRIME RESISTANT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

We formed the Crime Resistant Community Partnership more than 20 years ago to foster relationships between our department and multihousing rental communities in Lenexa, such as hotels and apartment complexes. The goal of this voluntary program is to help reduce and prevent crime and nuisance violations at Lenexa hotels and apartment communities.

Each participating multihousing community is assigned a police officer that serves as a liaison

between that property and the police department. That officer works with property owners, managers and residents to keep them apprised of crime trends and implement crime-prevention strategies and practices for the property. The officer also notifies property managers of police calls and activity that occurs on property. Additionally, we work with the Lenexa Community Development Department to address repeat City ordinance violations at multihousing and rental properties.

“This program has proven to be an effective partnership in addressing some of the crime-related challenges unique to multihousing rental properties. We are proud to have a good working relationship with all 35 of the multihousing complexes in Lenexa.”

Sergeant Jason Hinkle, CRCP Program

Coordinator

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

In addition to providing traffic enforcement, crime investigation and emergency response, the Lenexa Police Department offers more than 18 community-oriented programs you can participate in.

Active Shooter Response Training

Free active shooter response training is offered to Lenexa businesses, churches, civic groups and other interested organizations.

Alarm Registration

If you have a home or business alarm system, you must register it with our free online registration system.

Child Car Seat Inspections

Get peace of mind that you’ve correctly installed your child’s car seat by scheduling an inspection with our certified public service officers. We do not install the car seat for you, but instead inspect and assist with adjustments.

Citizens’ Police Academy

Learn the ins and outs of the Lenexa Police Department through this free 12-week program.

Community Video Partnership Program

Help us solve crimes faster by registering your home or business video cameras that record public areas.

Crime-Resistant Community Partnership

We partner with apartments, hotels and storage units to reduce crime and create safe neighborhoods.

Internet Safety Workshops

Learn how to stay safe from online dangers and keep your personal data protected.

Fingerprinting

We provide fingerprinting services to Lenexa residents for a small fee.

Gun Locks

You can pick up a free gun lock at the Lenexa Police Station.

Hire an Off-Duty Police Officer

Off-duty Lenexa police officers may be hired by a private entity to provide security-related services.

Neighborhood Block Party Visits

When available, our officers will visit neighborhood block parties. These requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and are attended by on-duty officers who may need to leave to respond to a call.

Police Officer Educational Visits

We value the opportunity for community engagement and are available to make educational visits to community groups.

Police Ride-Alongs

See what our officers do first-hand through our ride-along program.

Station Tours

We offer tours of our police station to individuals and groups.

Understanding Police Use of Force: Citizen Workshop

We host workshops twice a year to educate civilians about the various aspects of police use of force.

Vacation House Watch

When you are out of town, we’ll keep an eye on your home.

Vehicle Lockouts

We will assist if you are locked out of your vehicle when someone is locked in the vehicle and cannot unlock it themselves. If it is not an emergency, we will call a locksmith for you. Call 911 to speak with our dispatchers and explain your situation.

Year-Round Drug Disposal

Clean out your medicine cabinet and safely dispose of unused and expired prescription medications in our lobby 24/7.

Youth Police Academy

A one-week summer program offered twice a year for teens ages 13 to 17. This fun, interactive learning experience is designed to teach students about law enforcement, its challenges and the philosophy of teamwork.

We are proud to hire only the most qualified candidates. Only 5% of our total applicants were offered a job in 2022.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO HIRING THE BEST.

We believe that staffing a healthy police agency starts with the hiring and selection process. We seek candidates of strong ethical character, who are highly trainable, and who desire to be in law enforcement for the right reasons — serving and protecting with honor, integrity and professionalism.

Our hiring process is multistep and can take up to three months from start to finish. A candidate can be eliminated from the process at any step. All applicants, including those with previous law enforcement experience at other agencies, are required to follow all the steps in our process.

The hiring process for professional staff, such as dispatcher and public service officer, is very similar to that of a police officer with some exceptions. For example, professional staff positions do not require a physical fitness test.

The following are all the steps of our hiring process.

APPLICATION SCREENING SELECTION PROCESS

FINAL JOB OFFER

• Application

• Written exam

• Interview board

• Polygraph examination

• Background investigation

• Physical fitness test

• Job shadowing

• Interview with chief of police

• Psychological inventory

• Medical/physical examination

• The chief of police makes the final hiring decision

A PLACE WHERE YOU’LL BE TRAINED, SUPPORTED & VALUED.

We’re hiring lateral transfers, college graduates, professional staff positions and those looking for a career change. No experience necessary.

“I always feel like the department has my back and we are all dedicated to helping each other out. Teamwork plays a role in almost everything that we do and is fundamental to how we function so well as a department.

It is also nice to know how supported we are within the community. The citizens of Lenexa seem to truly appreciate what we do as officers and always let us know how much they do. I enjoy seeing how active they are in learning about our department and policing.”

Lenexa Police Officer

Michael Lark

Ready to try it out first? BECOME AN INTERN

13 current full-time employees are former interns

The Lenexa Police Department summer internship program allows college students the opportunity to see and learn our department’s practices, understand our approach to community policing and be mentored by staff who have been in law enforcement for decades.

To apply, you must be enrolled in college working toward a degree (does not have to be criminal justice), and the internship is part of an assigned curriculum at your college. Paid internship benefits include: 200 hours of law enforcement training, college credits toward your degree, and special consideration given for future employment with Lenexa. Apply for a summer internship by March 17, 2023 at JoinLenexaPD.com.

In addition to our summer college internship program, we partner with select colleges on a semester-long practicum during the school year. We also work with some school districts to provide internship opportunities to high school students as part of a public safety study program.

OUR APPROACH TO

CRITICAL INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

Critical incidents involving police officers from Johnson County law enforcement agencies, including ours, are investigated by the Johnson County multijurisdictional Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team (OICIIT). This includes officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, or other lethal force situations.

OICIIT is a group comprised of well-trained, professional investigators from law enforcement agencies across Johnson County. While members of the Lenexa Police Department serve on the OICIIT, those members are excluded when an investigation directly involves one of our officers, which is standard OICIIT practice.

The OICIIT’s task is to conduct a thorough and independent review of the facts of a particular case and document them.

This includes interviewing involved officers, witnesses and victims. This also entails reviewing evidence such as officer body-worn cameras, in-car camera footage, and any existing security or surveillance camera footage.

Upon completion of the OICIIT investigation, the report is sent to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office for review. Ultimately, it is the district attorney who determines whether an officer’s actions were legally justified.

In addition to, but separate from the OICIIT investigation, the Lenexa Police Department conducts an internal administrative investigation to examine if an officer’s actions were ethical and within department policy.

AFTER A CRITICAL INCIDENT OCCURS

STEP 1

Chief of police requests investigation by Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation team

Chief contacts the OICIIT administrator, typically another Johnson County police chief, to initiate the investigation.

STEP 4

District Attorney makes ruling on officers’ actions in the critical incident

After reviewing the OICIIT report, the district attorney will determine the legality of actions taken by officers in the critical incident.

STEP 2

OICIIT meets and starts investigation of critical incident

Investigation typically begins immediately upon OICIIT notification. They use an all-hands-on-deck approach, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.

STEP 3

Final OICIIT report sent to the district attorney’s office

Once the investigation is complete, the OICIIT administrator presents the case to the district attorney’s office for review.

Concurrent to the OICIIT investigation, the Lenexa Police Department conducts an internal administrative investigation to examine if an officer’s actions were ethical and within department policy.

PREVENTING CAR BREAK-INS STARTS BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE

Here are some tips to keep in mind next time you park your vehicle in a public space or your driveway. Remember, always report suspicious activity by calling 911.

If you must, use trunk to hide valuables (but do this before you arrive to your destination).

HANG UP ON GIFT CARD SCAMS

Did you know that gift cards are the top method of payment favored by fraudsters, according to Federal Trade Commission?

Experts recommend only purchasing a gift card if you plan to give it as a gift to someone you know, such as a relative, friend or co-worker. Here are some other tips to keep from falling victim to financial scams:

Never provide gift card information to someone over the telephone. Do not send photos of gift cards to anyone.

Take valuables like purses and wallets with you. Don’t leave them in sight (even covered by a jacket).

Lock car doors and activate vehicle alarm,

No legitimate agency such as the IRS, Social Security Administration or police departments will ever request any payment via gift card. They’ll also never request personal or financial information over the phone, such as your full Social Security number, or bank account numbers.

Never be pressured into making a financial decision immediately. Scammers often pressure victims into a hasty decision by preying

on victims’ emotions. If ever in doubt about a situation, run it by a trusted relative or friend. Often, victims are too emotionally charged to think clearly about the situation.

If you have to pay something in order to receive a prize, it’s probably a scam. Taxes, fees and other charges are often collected by scammers before the victim will receive the “prize” or “sweepstakes” (which, of course, never come).

No matter the scam, scammers use pressure to play on the victim’s emotions and will try to get them to act quickly without thinking or consulting someone for advice. Be especially cautious any time someone is asking for payment using prepaid cards (VISA, iTunes, Google Play) purchased from a local retailer.

I LIKE LENEXA

Purses Electronics Firearms

Lenexa Police Department

12500 W. 87th St. Pkwy.

Lenexa, KS 66215

BEHIND THE BADGE

“I began my career with Lenexa in 1992 as a police dispatcher. At that time, Lenexa was known as the premier department in the metro and set the example for leadership, training and values. I very much wanted to be a part of that and believe Lenexa still leads the way today, many years later.”

Crystal Hardman, Animal Control Officer II

Stay connected with us

Learn more about our department, career opportunities, programs and services at Lenexa.com/Police.

Get additional crime prevention tips emailed to you through My Lenexa News, the City’s general e-newsletter. Subscribe at Lenexa.com/ENews.

“Teamwork is essential to doing our jobs effectively. We have great officers who work hard each and every day. Oftentimes I will see officers help with cases even if they aren’t involved with it. It goes to show how our culture is very driven at getting the job done. At the end of the day, we are all on the same team.”

Matt Holloway, Master Police Officer

Emergency: 911

Suicide and crisis lifeline: 988

Dispatch non-emergency: 913.477.7301

Administrative office: 913.477.7300

Crime stoppers anonymous tip line: 816.474.8477