Who does your Twitter? That’s still the most frequent question I get, even after being here for three years. (Yes, I know it is now X, but it will always be Twitter to me.) Even before I started, people would tell me not to mess up the Twitter account—before even telling me congratulations. Our far-reaching Twitter account with its approximately 160,000 followers is an important tool for sharing information with our community. Now, I want to introduce you to this new informational quarterly report, which will be another platform to help you stay safe and secure.
This quarterly report is just one more step in my goal to ensure we share the goings-on at the department with our community. You’ll see how we are progressing in our community service, including crime numbers, response times to calls, cases completed, and alternative ways of handling calls to police.
It’s my vision to police Lawrence the way you want to be policed, and we’re implementing innovative strategies on a regular basis that we want to share with you.
We’ll also have regular features. You’ll see what a day in the life of a police K9 is like. This quarter you hear from Rosie, our newest K9. She’s a therapy dog and primarily works in our schools.
We’ll introduce new programs to help you take charge of your own personal safety. This edition highlights the Rape Aggression Defense classes we’ve started offering free of charge.
You’ll see tips for winter driving and how to stay safe on the internet to help you and your family discuss how to stay safe in the real and virtual world.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design introduces you to simple ways to make the area around your home or business less tempting to criminals.
We also want you to get to know the men and women who work to help keep you safe and will do that through a section called “Behind the Badge”. These “icebreaker” questions will be the same each month, and we hope they will be informative and fun!
If there is something you want to see here, email our communications department at LPDMedia@lkpd.org and ask a question, give feedback, or send a story idea. You might see it in a future edition.
LKPD Commander Addresses Middle School Ahead of MLK Day
“It’s not easy to step in and stand up for others when they’re mistreated or to redirect or confront someone when they do or say something you disapprove of or is fundamentally wrong. It takes courage to convey a message of love in the face of extreme hatred and anger.”
Laura McCabe LKPD Communications Manager
Standing with a microphone in front of students at Billy Mills Middle School, Lt. Myrone Grady can’t help but recall the long road that led him here. “I have come to realize, more than ever, that we all stand on the shoulders of giants, in this career and in life. We are caretakers with a responsibility to leave things just a bit better for the next generation,” he said.
As a history buff, when
LKPD COMMANDER, Continued on page 2
Officers Share Their “Why”
Laura McCabe
LKPD Communications Manager
Police Officers put their lives at risk every day. No stop is ever “simple” in the eyes of a trained Law Enforcement Officer. It could mean they’ll endure physical or verbal abuse, be assigned to run toward life-threatening violence, or not go home to their family at all.
“Police are tasked with managing the most complicated object in the known universe: human beings,” says Jared Madsen, a new officer training on the streets, after just graduating from the Lawrence Kansas Police Department’s 47th Basic Recruit Academy.
“We volunteer to confront humanity’s chaos head-on,” Madsen continues, “to make decisions in moments where there often isn’t an ideal choice. That’s the responsibility we accept—a responsibility as heavy as the badge itself.”
So why do they do it? The next call could also mean a life-saved, or a speeding teen realizes the dangers of her actions and develops a lifelong habit of cautious driving.
WHY, Continued on page 2
“We volunteer to confront humanity’s chaos headon, to make decisions in moments where there often isn’t an ideal choice. That’s the responsibility we accept—a responsibility as heavy as the badge itself,” says Jared Madsen a new officer in training.
Rich Lockhart
Lt. Myrone Grady talks about decades at LKPD.
Officer Megan Ashley trains in high-risk vehicle stops.
Continued from page 1
Entering the academy is not a decision any of LKPD’s newest officers on the street took lightly. But it’s a dream Officer Madsen has had as long as he can remember. “Back then, officers seemed larger than life—protectors of the innocent, guardians of justice,” he recalls.
That child-like view was not instilled in fellow academy graduate, Officer Michael Demery. “The negative experiences I have had with law enforcement have only reinforced in me the strong moral desire to be the difference, to be the change, and to be the figure that the public can trust with their day-to-day lives,” he explains.
Officer Andres Casado’s experience at the academy began with a clear message. “They let us know that Lawrence Police Academy had the best instructors and the best graduation scores in the state, so we knew the standards were high. In the same week-the very first week-we got tased and maced with pepper spray,” he shares.
Despite the physical and mental challenges, all knew they wanted to be part of Chief Lockhart’s vision of policing Lawrence the way its residents want to be policed, including Officer Dakota Long. “I knew entering the Academy through the hiring process that this department was truly trying to evolve with the community’s needs, but I was shocked to see the extent to which they had already begun working on changing police work as a whole,” says Long. “The people of Lawrence should be excited about the important changes taking place here and carry an enormous sense of pride that their department hears them and is growing with them.”
The department’s core competency, “We Believe in the Personal Touch”, caught Officer Alvin Houston’s attention immediately. “They harped on that a lot. Every time I would ask them any advice or how I should go about things they would say, ‘Just be yourself, no matter what that is.’
Once I heard those words, I knew I was picking the best place possible,” Houston says.
Those words would also ground and motivate one of LKPD’s newest female recruits, Officer Kate Weston, who comes from a family tree filled with officers from other agencies, “All the training I received was from individuals I respect and admire, and I aspire to make them proud throughout my career with LKPD,” Weston says.
So, when asked, “why,” Officer Hunter Barnam says he returned to Lawrence after serving in the Navy with a clear and simple answer, “My ‘why’ is rooted in love – love for my family, pride in my city, and a desire to protect and serve. I have a renewed appreciation for the familiarity and warmth of our community. My time away made me realize how special Lawrence truly is and the incredible potential it holds.”
No matter what the call, Madsen says there is one constant, “Humans are messy, emotional, and irrational—in other words, imperfect. And cops, for all the expectations placed upon them, are no different. We carry the same flaws, vulnerabilities, and imperfections as everyone else. If the academy taught me one thing, it’s this: take it one call at a time.
LKPD COMMANDER
Continued from page 1
Grady was asked to speak just ahead of the nation honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a mix of the nation’s past and personal nostalgia bombarded his thoughts: “When I think of Dr. King, I am certain at the time of his death, he was not well-liked, and a large percentage of Americans did not support him or his efforts—Black people included.”
More than 20 years ago, Lt. Grady recalls feeling he was being picked on and wasn’t wanted or needed at LKPD. That’s when now-retired Captain Ed Brunt changed his perspective. “He took me to breakfast, bought me pancakes, and basically made me man up and fight for my presence. He saw something in me before I saw it in myself,” Grady recalls.
Grady is quick to say others made similar impacts, but it reminds him we are all just people with the power to change, something he was sure to relay to students during his speech: “Dr. King was a
Recruits learn to use the vehicle for cover during highrisk car stops.
man—just a man and a cog in the wheels of justice and equality that we are still trying to reconcile to this very day.”
His speech focused on three actionable ideals that have guided his 22-year career
based in service: Courage, Commitment, and Kindness.
“It takes courage to do the right thing,” said Grady said. “It’s not easy to step in and stand up for others when they’re mis-
treated or to redirect or confront someone when they do or say something you disapprove of or is fundamentally wrong. It takes courage to convey a message of love in the face of extreme hatred and anger.”
Grady continued to say that commitment takes strength, determination, faith, and accountability to a cause bigger than you, ending with: “Kindness, in my eyes, should be the easiest to do. Treat others how you want to be treated.”
Lt. Grady now serves as the Lawrence Kansas Police Department’s first Executive Officer of Community Engagement and Diversity and admits his growth and understanding took time and support. “Without the grace and understanding of those who came before me, there is no doubt in my mind I would have quit.”
Grady was sure to bestow grace as well.
“I am not here to change minds or indoctrinate. That’s not how I roll. I am here to honor a great man, who means a great deal to a large segment of the population, so be kind. It’s a choice.”
Officers Barham and Weston training with the 47th Basic Recruit Academy.
Lt. Grady circa 2005 as a young officer on patrol.
Officer Andres Casado during traffic stop training.
Officer Madsen prepares to be exposed to a taser as part of his training.
Recruits, training officers, commanders, and Chief Rich Lockhart, just before LKPD’s 47th Basic Recruit Academy Graduation.
DRIVING ON ICE AND SNOW
CHECK YOUR BATTERY
It's important to check your battery's charge level during cold weather and replace it if necessary.
CHECK YOUR TIRES
Regularly check your tire pressure since cold weather can cause them to deflate, which can lead to blowouts.
In bad weather, if you get stranded, it may take a while for police to reach you. You don’t want to run out of gas if you’re stranded.
STOPPING ON ICE OR SNOW FILL UP THE TANK
If you slide, don’t tap your brakes! Braking when you lose traction will worsen the slide. Try to coast and steer out of it.
Officer A.J. Zarnowiec Radio #551
Hired 5/13/19
1. What is your superpower?
Surviving without a sleep schedule! I’ve been on our night patrol shifts for the majority of my five years with LKPD, but between trainings and other department functions I’m constantly bouncing between daytime and nighttime hours.
2. Tell us a weird fact you happen to know for no reason. There are only two escalators in the entire state of Wyoming.
3. What would be your walk-up song?
It might be a cliche answer, but definitely “Kickstart My Heart” by
Motley Crue.
4. What is your favorite place in Lawrence?
I’m a townie and a KU grad so I’m going to pick the Campanile. I started the Police Academy the same week that I walked down the hill for graduation, so the Campanile symbolizes a transition of sorts from one chapter of my life to the next. Plus, the view is beautiful and the hills are great for running.
5. What do you most enjoy about your job?
It’s different every day! I love being out in the community, never knowing what’s going to be dispatched next. One minute I’m part of a team apprehending a wanted felony suspect, and the next I’m trying to figure out how to care for an injured beaver that someone caught in their backyard. Yes, that’s a true story from just a couple weeks ago. Like any job, there are good days, bad days, and everything in between but wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had and the relationships I’ve built for anything.
Watch for answers to the same five questions from another officer in the next edition. If you know an officer you’d like to have answer them, email us at LPDMedia@lkpd.org
STAY BACK CLEAR ALL WINDOWS
A large following distance behind the car in front of you gives you more time to slow without braking to avoid losing traction. Use as little brake as possible.
Don’t just clear your windshield. All windows should be free of snow and ice for an unobstructed view while driving.
A Q&A with LKPD Officers
If I am worried about crime at my restaurant, can I offer free lunch to officers to get them to come in more? While officers are flattered you want to give them a free lunch, they can’t accept. Officers taking free products from the public (LKPD calls them gratuities) can create an actual, or at least perceived, integrity issue. That’s why we have a policy against it. It’s the responsibility of the police to provide service equally across the community, and accepting gratuities can give the appearance of favoritism. Instead, talk to an officer about the issues you’re facing, and the officer will be happy to help find appropriate ways to address them.
variety of reasons and it’s important we know those reasons before invading their privacy. Mental health factors often contribute. The last thing we want to do is exacerbate those issues by embarrassing the teen or causing them to run further. Being a teenager is tough enough without public scrutiny. Under some circumstances, the potential benefit of posting outweighs the harm. Every circumstance is different. It’s always our goal to find them quickly, and get them resources to address the factors that caused them to run away in the first place. The safety of the individual is always the strongest deciding factor. Does LKPD have a lost and found?
Why do I aways see notices about missing teenagers on other social media pages, but rarely on the Lawrence Kansas Police Department’s social media? Many times, teenagers are away from home voluntarily and not in immediate danger. They leave for a
Technically no, but oftentimes people return property they’ve found to us. It’s placed in our property room and can be retrieved during normal business hours from our evidence technicians. You should be prepared to show proof of ownership.
Free Rape Aggression Defense classes offered by LKPD officers
Laura McCabe LKPD Communications Manager
If I were to tell you that one in five women in the United States has experienced rape or attempted rape, what is your reaction? “Not surprised,” says Kristina Chartrand, who recently completed a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) class offered by certified instructors from the Lawrence Kansas Police Department.
In fact, Chartrand took the class with her daughter, who is in college, and intends to suggest it to her younger daughters when they’re older. “I think all girls should take it,” continues Chartrand.
Researchers at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center also found one American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, and often these assaults occur at or nearby the victim’s home.
These statistics, and her experience working with assault survivors and families, motivated Officer Bailey Salsbury, a school resource officer at Southwest Middle School, to become a RAD instructor, recruit other LKPD officers to do the same, and begin offering free RAD classes to women in Lawrence.
“It didn’t take a lot of convincing to get my friends, colleagues, and leadership on board here at the department,” says Salsbury. “They see the traumatic results and investigate sex crimes every day.”
The Lawrence Police Department now has four certified RAD instructors. All are dedicated to providing women in our community with the resources and skills to protect themselves.
Chartrand had the same goal. “I really wanted my daughter to take it because she’s in college, and I worry about her safety and wanted to make sure she could take care of herself,” Chartrand shared.
The Rape Aggression Defense Program is a nine-hour course that takes place in two sessions to allow students maximum retention of the materials. At the start of each course, instructors take the time to allow each student the opportunity to tell their personal story, if they
choose to do so. This allows instructors and classmates the opportunity to get to know each other and their motivation for attending the course.
The officers strive to empower women, teaching them about self-defense and available options to give them the best chance to get away from their assailant.
“For me personally, it reinforced my confidence in myself, and it also reinforced my confidence in my daughter,” says Chartrand.
Officer Salsbury has led the team in hosting two courses so far, with plans to host at least three courses a year. All are held in a safe and fun environment.
“The class places women in a vulnerable position, especially those who have already experienced sexual assault,” explains Salsbury. “This may trigger some emotions of their past experiences. By gaining an understanding of why the participants have chosen to attend, we can alter our teaching style to apply toward that person, making sure to maintain their comfort and trust.”
Mission accomplished, according to Chartrand, who said, “I love that it helped us build a closer relationship with the officers that serve our community.”
Officer Salsbury is in the process of organizing more classes. If you’d like to get on the waiting list, go to the Lawrence Kansas Police Department’s Facebook page and look for the Google form under pinned content, or find it at: https://bit.ly/RADclassLKPD
At times, oddly enough, driving a 3,000 to 5,000-pound vehicle can feel like an automatic or mindless activity that many of us take for granted. And despite the recent snowstorm, where we documented 56 non-injury and three injury crashes within 36 hours, road conditions are not within the top three contributing factors for reported traffic crashes.
Injury and non-injury traffic crashes slightly increased in Lawrence in 2024. Many things can affect the number of crashes that we see in town each year. Changes in driving behaviors, like the expanding use of rideshare
services for late-night crowds, can cause a decrease. Redesigning highcrash intersections, such as 23rd and Haskell Avenue, can also help. Then, there are times we get more than a foot of snow dumped on the city, and we’re just going to see more crashes.
So, although several factors influence the number and severity of crashes that occur each year, LKPD also tracks the reasons, which have
remained consistent in recent years. In the past four years, the same three factors have been listed on accident reports: Inattention
• Failure to Yield the Right of Way
• Following Too Closely Please don’t forget that a moment of inattention, daydreaming, or checking your social media feed can result in a deadly crash for you or someone else. Drive safe.
Help stay Safe and Secure with this easy
Did you know that changing the area around your home or business can make it about 60% safer? That’s the philosophy behind Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. That overgrown landscaping around your house can be an invitation to criminals.
Let’s talk about the two-foot-six-foot rule.
The rule says that you shouldn’t have anything taller than two feet and nothing hanging lower than 6 feet. The idea is to create a clear line of sight to your home or business.
When there is a clear sightline, there is no place for people with bad intentions to do bad things. It’s one of those things that is so simple and creates a much safer environment. So when all this snow melts, go forth and start chopping down that overgrown vegetation to be ready for spring.
Key Concepts
Territorial reinforcement
Using landscaping, lighting, signage, and fences to promote a sense of ownership
Natural surveillance Designing spaces so people can be seen 24/7
Access control
Limiting access to certain areas
Deputy Chief Adam Heffley
Deputy Chief Adam Heffley
A Day in the Life of Rosie, the Police Therapy Dog
Translated by Officer Lindsay Bishop
Hi, I’m Rosie, the therapy dog for the Lawrence Kansas Police Department. Yep, you read that right. I’m a police K-9 but don’t get too excited. I don’t chase criminals or sniff out drugs. Nope, my job is much harder, I am here to help people survive one of the most difficult times in their lives, also known as middle school. Every day, I trot into West Middle School with much more energy than the sleepy scholars wearing pajama pants. I can’t wait for the kids to greet me and tell me how good I smell after a fresh bath. I am such an official at school the kids even started calling me “Officer Rosie”. You wouldn’t believe how amazing the smells at middle school are. You would think I was a bloodhound tracking its prey when I pick up a scent in the piles of unwashed hoodies in the lost and found. My handler, Officer Bishop, is always telling me to “leave it” and not eat crumbs off the floor even though I am SO curious what they taste like. I just have to be patient until she drops glaze off her Munchers doughnut for me to scarf up. The breathtaking smells of middle school continue outside where I have been known to snag a discarded tube sock or boneless chicken wing, in hopes that she wouldn’t notice.
I also sit in on classroom presentations with Officer Bishop where I am the real star of the show. Forget about the police officer talking about internet
safety or constitutional rights—I’m the one getting the attention. The kids always compliment me on how fluffy I am and try to get me to come sit with them during class. The girls love my big brown eyes and even ask Officer Bishop if I am wearing mascara.
I LOVE our 3-minute passing periods at school where I can get up to 30 different kids giving me pets as they scurry to their next class. They have to be quick because I can’t write any tardy slips. When I am not paw-trolling the hallways, I am often waiting for a student to come see me in Officer Bishop’s office. In between naps, I am there waiting for kids to tell me about their problems. Since I can’t talk, I don’t give much advice, but I am the BEST listener. They say I help with anxiety, but honestly, I just love belly rubs. I get so many, I’m practically a full-time massage therapist. If you see me around don’t be shy- I love to “shake” with new people.
- Officer Rosie
Sgt. Jamie Lawson
The Team:
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County (CACDC) collaborates closely with the Lawrence Kansas Police Department’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) to address child abuse cases.
• The Lawrence Kansas Police Department’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) members investigate sex crimes, sexual and physical child abuse, and domestic violence cases.
• The Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County (CACDC) offers a comprehensive, child-centered program that provides an immediate and compassionate response to a child’s disclosure of abuse. The CAC model is focused on teamwork - bringing multidisciplinary professionals together, including but not limited to Douglas County Law Enforcement agencies, Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, Victim Witness Coordinators, Department for Children and Families (DCF), Children’s Mercy Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Bert Nash Community Center, and the Sexual Trauma Abuse and Care Center.
Why it matters: This partnership ensures a child-centered approach in investigations that prioritizes the welfare and safety of children.
How it works: The CACDC provides a neutral environment for specialized interviews, while family advocates ensure ongoing support for victims and their
families.
The CACDC brings specially trained professionals together to collaboratively to ensure an effective and efficient response to each case. They provide a neutral and child-friendly setting, away from the police department, to conduct specialized interviews with the child victim.
Family advocates at the CAC provide support to help connect everyone involved with resources, including high-quality medical care and therapy services. Advocates provide on-going support to children and their support systems throughout the investigation and criminal justice process to ensure services remain in place through the path towards healing.
The outcome: Communities with a CAC, like Douglas County, see improved child protection and better criminal justice outcomes, along with increased satisfaction from all involved parties. In a published evaluation of the National CAC response to abuse cases, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention emphasized some of the benefits:
• Higher levels of child protection
Higher rates of perpetrator confessions and improved criminal justice outcomes
• Higher rates of specialized medical evaluations
• Significantly more referrals to mental health services
• Greater client satisfaction with the MDT response
