The field has been narrowed to seven 1-23-19
The finalists for the Platte City chief of police position include two senior federal law enforcement officers, three officers with extensive Kansas City Police Department leadership experience and two local chiefs of police, including Platte City’s interim chief.
The city is seeking to hire a replacement for Chief Carl Mitchel,l who is retiring after nine years with the department.
Mayor Frank Offutt announced that the city is very gratified with the number of applicants and the high quality of the finalists.
“The city received over 130 applications from law enforcement professionals in eleven states as well as several federal agencies. The number and quality of the individuals who applied are a very positive comment about the Platte City Police Department and the Platte City community as a whole,” the mayor said.
“Many of the applicants would be competitive for nearly any police command and leadership position, the fact they chose to seek our position shows that the department and the community enjoy a strong reputation among law enforcement professionals.”
The seven finalists are listed here in alphabetical order:
Brian Conneely-currently serves as assistant regional director for Middle Eastern Operations, US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). He is currently assigned to an international posting. Conneely has more than 31 years of law enforcement service with the Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration. Prior to his most current overseas assignments, Conneely has served in progressively responsible DEA positions internationally as well as numerous domestic assignments supervising teams of special agents, task force officers and other law enforcement agencies while conducting a full range of complex investigations of money laundering and drug trafficking organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Manhattan College.
Lynda Hacker-Bristow – Current Interim Chief Hacker-Bristow has more than 30 years of law enforcement service with KCPD and the Platte County Sheriff’s Office. Based on her extensive experience, Lynda was selected to serve as the city’s interim chief of police during the police department evaluation and chief of police recruitment process. Prior to her current permanent assignment with Platte County Sheriff’s Department, Lynda served for 28 years as a detective, supervisory detective and intelligence analyst with the KCPD. Additionally, she has significant and ongoing experience as an trainer and instructor at the KCPD Police Academy and several Regional Law Enforcement Academies.
Robert Kuehl – currently serves as the deputy chief of the KCPD. He has 32 years of law enforcement experience as well as experience as a small business owner/founder of Heartland Risk Management, LLC which provides risk management consulting services to the long-term nursing care provider industry. In his current role as the KCPD deputy chief he is responsible for supervising and leading department operations including training and research and development divisions and all aspects of the KCPD Police Academy.
Prior to his current assignment, Deputy Chief Kuehl was the executive commander overseeing several multi-million-dollar design, construction and renovation projects of facilities and was project sponsor for the public safety Mid-America regional radio system. Bob holds a master’s in education (instructional leadership) from Graceland University, a bachelor’s in sociology/criminal justice from Monmouth University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Ronald Militana – currently serves as the resident agent in Charge (RAIC) of Homeland Security Investigations and as the chief federal law enforcement officer of the DHS office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Militana has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience with local law enforcement departments in North Carolina, the United States Border Patrol, US Customs, US Department of State and Homeland Security. Militana recently completed an intensive three-year leadership program with the United States Naval War College and is a United States Marine Corps Veteran. Ron holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Excelsior University.
Bradford Stott – currently serves as a sergeant in the KCPD, assigned as the IMPACT sergeant supervising a specialized community policing unit and community interaction officers who promote crime prevention, neighborhood watch, community organization and solving difficult quality of life issues. Sgt Stott has more than 24 years of law enforcement experience with the KCPD and began his career as a community action team officer. He has also served as a patrol sergeant and project manager for large multi-million-dollar construction projects to replace aging police facilities. Brad holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Gregory Volker – currently serves as a major in the KCPD assigned as the East Patrol Division Commander, providing leadership and direction for 148 sworn law enforcement officers and 15 civilian employees. Volker has more than 27 years of law enforcement service with the KCPD and serves part-time as an adjunct professor at Park University and the National White-Collar Crime Center.
Prior to his current role, Volker was the division commander for the Law Enforcement Resource Center and has experience as the information services division commander.
His experience spans multiple violent crime units as well as community engagement and multi-agency information sharing collaborations to deter and reduce crime. He holds a master’s in public administration from Park University, a bachelor’s in sociology/criminal justice from University of Missouri and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Joseph Wellington – currently serves as chief of police for the City of Gower, Missouri. Wellington has 40 years of law enforcement service including 25 years with the KCPD and 14 years as the chief of police in Gower. Wellington’s experience with KCPD includes serves as an officer and sergeant with patrol, SWAT, drug enforcement, homicide, undercover, robbery and street narcotics.
Wellington spent eight years as a member of Region H Homeland Security Oversight Committee and serves a member of the FBI-LEEDA Executive Board. Joe holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Longview College and received the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award for completion of their supervisor, command and executive leadership courses.
The selection process to identify the seven finalists from the large applicant pool was a several step process based on minimum qualifications established by the board of aldermen and specific evaluation criteria approved by the Public Safety Committee according to D. J. Gehrt, city administrator.
“The first step in the process was for the personnel committee and staff to independently review applications for compliance with the minimum requirements.
The next step was for the personnel committee and staff to conduct a second set of independent reviews based on the public safety committee evaluation characteristics of various traits the city wants from its new police chief.