LSPD NEWSLETTER
2026 3RD QUARTER JULY - SEPTEMBER
Commited to Excellence Service, Integritym Professionalism, Equality
PROMOTIONS, TRANSFERS AND NEW ASSIGNMENTS 07/06/2026 Officer Shane Bush is promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant and will be assigned to the Operations Division. 07/09/2026 Effective as staffing levels permit, Sergeant Zachary James will transfer to Special Operations and be assigned as Traffic Sergeant. 07/09/2026 PO Eppert successfully completed the Accelerated version of Field Training 08/07/2026 Dante Hunkin successfully completed the DTO Training Program 08/26/2026 Nathaniel Funderburk-Mejia has completed the Field Training program and had his first day of solo patrol today 08/27/2026 Effective August 15, 2026, DTO Bryce Owings is promoted to the position of Lead Detention Officer. 09/03/2026 Effective on this date, Lead CMS Barbie McMullen will be assigned as ESS Tactical CMS. 09/16/2026 Officer Nicholas Kost has successfully completed the DTO Training Program. DTO Kost will be assigned to B Wheel Nights beginning 9/18
Anniversaries REECE BRATCHER - 1 YEAR KRISTOPHER KEEZER - 1 YEAR LILLIAN SPRADLEY - 1 YEAR ANDRES CASTRO - 1 YEAR PATRICIA GAMBILL - 1 YEAR MATTHEW LONG - 1 YEAR LUCAS DEVINE - 1 YEAR EMILIO SAENZ - 1 YEAR SARAH-KEESLER PERRY - 1 YEAR AUSTIN PRINDLE - 1 YEAR NICHOLAS KOST - 1 YEAR NATHANIEL FUNDERBURK-MEJIA - 1 YEAR AMANDA SCHULTE - 2 YEARS CARL STAAS - 2 YEARS JASON CRADDOCK - 2 YEARS TIMOTHY DEJARNETTE - 2 YEARS JARAINE SLACK - 2 YEARS DANE WAGLER - 2 YEARS PIOTR BLAIM - 2 YEARS JAKE CHRISTOPHERSON - 2 YEARS MARTIN BLAHUT - 3 YEARS MARCY CARPENTER - 3 YEARS KARA PHILLIPS - 3 YEARS KRISTINA MITCHELL - 4 YEARS ERIK WARREN - 4 YEARS NATHAN MINAHAN - 5 YEARS
PHILLIPS EUBANKS - 6 YEARS ATALIE BROWN - 6 YEARS SHANE BUSH - 7 YEARS ERIC AMYX - 9 YEARS CHLOE CROWDES - 10 YEARS ASHLEY SPRING - 10 YEARS SYDNI BEEMAN - 10 YEARS CRISTOPHER DRAKE - 12 YEARS TRAVIS FORBES - 12 YEARS RYAN BROWNELL - 13 YEARS BILLY FOUTZ - 13 YEARS JASON SPAETH - 17 YEARS ERIC HENNIG - 17 YEARS CLARINDA WOODS - 17 YEARS AMANDA GENO - 18 YEARS TODD WEGER - 18 YEARS CHARLES GIPPNER - 19 YEARS AUBURNE COUNIHAN - 19 YEARS ELIZABETH HOON - 20 YEARS MICHAEL ISBERG - 21 YEARS SHERRI RIGOT - 21 YEARS MICHAEL ERVIN - 21 YEARS NICOLE WALTERS - 21 YEARS BRIAN WILSON - 29 YEARS SCOTT LILES - 30 YEARS CHRIS DEPUE - 36 YEARS
Jason Cain Radio Systems Specialist
Jazmine Knight CMS
Raylen Connell Shelter Attendant
Braydon Gant CMS
Ryley Thompson Animal Control Officer
Kobi Hammonds Recruit
Tyler Miller Recruit
Madison Dean Recruit
Alejandro Cruz Officer
Justin Cameron Recruit
Geno Cole Officer
Gabriel Barlow Recruit
Kendall Keegan Recruit
Jesse Kelso Radio Systems Specialist.
September 1, National Police K9 Day is observed to honor the dedicated working dogs in law enforcement and remember those lost in the line of duty. This day highlights the essential roles of police K9s, who are considered sworn members of the department and are trained to: Detect drugs and explosives Track missing persons Locate concealed suspects Apprehend dangerous individuals These dogs possess unmatched speed and olfactory skills, facing significant risks such as gunfire, heatstroke, and injuries during their service.
Let’s be honest… around the Lee’s Summit Police Department, National Dog Day isn’t just one day a year. It’s EVERY day! K9 Odin and K9 Roy remind us that a day at work is always better with a dog around!
welcome little one!
Congratulations to DTO Jaraine Slack and his wife, Leah, on the birth of their daughter, Reagan Slack! Reagan was born at 12:28 p.m. on July 7, 2026. She weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz. and measured 20¼ inches long.
E M O C L E W Y O B W CO
Officer Elisha Knapp welcomed Lincoln Brush on Thursday August 13th. Lincoln weighed in at 7lbs 7oz. Momma and baby are doing great!
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OFFICER SAENZ NEW BABY GIRL, INEZ SAENZ, BORN ON A U G UST 1 3 T H
WELCOME Det. Luke Wilson and his wife welcomed Sattler Ann Wilson to the world this morning at 0817 hours. She was 7lbs 13 oz and 20.5 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well and resting. Congrats Wilson family!
🚔 Junior Police Academy 2026 🚔
We had the opportunity to welcome 37 students to the Lee's Summit Police Department for our 2026 Junior Police Academy! Throughout the week, participants got a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement while learning new skills, meeting officers, and having plenty of hands-on experiences. Here's a look at the first part of the week:
📅 Monday 👮🏻♂️ Meet & Greet with Chief T Forbes 💪 Physical Training (PT) 🏢 Tour of the Police Department 🔍 Crime Scene Investigation & Fingerprinting 📅 Tuesday 💪 Physical Training (PT) 🚗 Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Howard and the Seatbelt Convincer ❤️ A powerful presentation from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) 🚓 A Junior Police Academy favorite—our Traffic Unit let students use radar and LIDAR to catch "speeders!" 📅 Wednesday 🥊Defensive Tactics (DT) 🛡️Emergency Services Squad (ESS or SWAT) *Another fan favorite* ⚕️Medical Examiner (Jackson County, Mo M.E)
Thank you to all of our officers, instructors, and community partners who helped make this year's Junior Police Academy an unforgettable experience.
🚔 Junior Police Academy 2026 🚔
The excitement continued as our 37 Junior Police Academy students wrapped up an unforgettable week of learning, teamwork, and hands-on experiences!
📅 Thursday 🐕 A visit from an ATF K9 team 🐾 Incredible K9 demonstrations from LSPD's K9s Odin and Roy, along with several local K9 units 🔎 A special demonstration by the amazing search-and-rescue dogs of MOSAR 🚁 The day ended with a drone demonstration from our Drone Unit 📅 Friday 🎧 A behind-the-scenes tour of our Communications Center (Dispatch) 🎤 An inspiring message from Captain Doogs 🎓 Graduation ceremony and a group photo to celebrate an incredible week!
We hope this experience inspired the next generation of Lee's Summit Police Department employees—both civilian and sworn. Whether these students choose a career in public safety or simply become more informed members of our community, we're proud to have shared this experience with them. To the parents of these 37 outstanding students: Thank you for trusting us to educate your children about the Lee's Summit Police Department and the many ways we serve our community. Until next year!
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GUARDIANS OF JUSTICE AWARD R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, recognized the recipients of the 2026 Guardian of Justice Award, which honored several local and federal law enforcement officers for their work on significant investigations within the district. The prestigious law enforcement award is presented annually by the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee. “I commend the agents and law enforcement officers whose dedication and investigative efforts helped bring many dangerous individuals to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Price. “Their work has made our communities safer and serves as an important reminder that collaboration and cooperation are critical to our shared mission of protecting the communities we serve.”
TIGER DRAGGOO FENTANYL DISTRIBUTION CASE The second Guardian of Justice Award was presented to the law enforcement and legal team responsible for the successful conviction of drug distributor Tiger Draggoo, who was responsible for three fentanyl overdose deaths in the district. The recipients were: Detective Jennifer Maynard, Jackson County Drug Task Force/Lee’s Summit Police Department; Detective Mike Murphy, Grandview, Missouri Police Department/formerly Jackson County Drug Task Force; Detective Jeff Richardson, Belton, Missouri Police Department; Corporal Tony Sterner, Cass County Sheriff’s Office; Special Agent Tim Phipps, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Special Agent Tim Flohrschutz, Federal Bureau of Investigation Kansas City Field Office; and Scott Hamann, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri, Financial Investigator. Tiger Draggoo, 26, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to 40 years in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and three counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. The victims were ages 17, 18, and 21. In addition, the Court ordered the forfeiture of $146,066 that was seized at the time of his arrest, imposition of a money judgment in the amount of $611,698, and restitution to the victims’ families in the total amount of $65,937.20. At his guilty plea, Draggoo admitted to distributing or possessing with intent to distribute at least 22,364 fentanyl pills. Law enforcement seized 23 firearms from Draggoo, which included two machineguns and one shortbarreled shotgun. In addition to Draggoo, seven other defendants pleaded guilty to this conspiracy.
Our 2025 Annual Report is here Accountability. Community. Transparency. See how Lee's Summit Police served our community in 2025, including a crime snapshot, community outreach, traffic safety, unit spotlights, crisis intervention, training and achievements. Read the full report on our website.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety, alongside Governor Mike Kehoe, recognized more than 20 first responders and citizens who were nominated by their peers as heroes for their bravery and selflessness. We are incredibly proud of our own Officer Timbrook, who was honored with a Red, White, and Blue Heart Award for being a first responder seriously injured in the line of duty. Following his June 2025 incident, we are especially grateful that Officer Timbrook was able to stand among his fellow honorees yesterday and accept this recognition in person. We are thankful for his strength, perseverance, and continued commitment to serving our community. While we celebrate those who were able to be there, we also pause to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. Our deepest sympathies remain with the families, friends, and fellow first responders who carry their loss. We honor their sacrifice. We remember their service. And we are grateful for those who continue to answer the call.
Happy National IT Professionals Day! Behind every computer, camera system, radio, database, server, and piece of technology keeping LSPD running is someone in IT making sure it actually works. They troubleshoot the problems we don’t understand, fix the things we definitely didn’t break, keep our systems secure, and somehow make technology cooperate when it has decided to choose violence. Today, we’re giving a huge THANK YOU to our IT professionals for keeping LSPD connected, protected, and operational. Because when the technology works, nobody notices. When it doesn’t… EVERYONE notices. Happy National IT Professionals Day! We appreciate you more than you know!
We have daughters, mothers, sisters, wives, police wives, girlfriends, nieces, great-nieces, cousins, co-workers, and friends. But when they put on the badge, they are police officers. We are proud of the women who wear the badge at LSPD—today and every day.
r e t t i r C Dexter's Adoption Day after calling the shelter his home for over a year!
ACO Thompson Attempting to capture a raccoon
Armadillo
Linda Wyland - Warren - One of our very dedicated volunteers. Linda is at the shelter four times per week for at least 3-4 hours each time.
Corner ACO Bennett with hawk
ACO Keesler - Perry with hawk
ACO Keesler - Perry with a puppy
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32nd Annual Steve Hagedorn Memorial Golf Tournament September 11, 2026
National CIT & Crisis Responder Week This week highlights the role of mental health co-responders who assist LSPD officers, bringing expertise to de-escalate situations and connect individuals with ongoing support. Their collaboration allows for a compassionate approach to crisis intervention, focusing on long-term needs, whether it involves treatment, community resources, or simply a listening ear.
To our co-responders, CIT officers, dispatchers, and everyone who answers these calls with patience, compassion, and understanding — THANK YOU for showing up when people need you most.
National Crime & Intelligence Analyst Appreciation Day! We recognize the crime analysts who turn data into information, information into intelligence, and intelligence into action. They identify patterns, connect the dots, track trends, analyze crime data, and help our officers and investigators know where to look, what to look for, and what may be coming next. Their work may happen behind the scenes, but the impact is felt throughout our community every day. Thank you to our Crime Analysts here at LSPD
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October 1, 2026 | 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Witches Eve 2026 A night of spellbinding shopping awaits! Enjoy a wicked night out with your ghoul squad on Thursday, October 1st in Downtown Lee’s Summit. Dozens of stores will be open late offering exclusive specials, spooky snacks, apparel, gifts, and photo ops galore. And remember, if you’ve got it, haunt it.
October 8, 2026 | 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Remembering Lee’s Summit The Lee’s Summit History Museum invites you to an evening where you will be lost in a world of stories and memories about Lee’s Summit. Come listen to stories from a group of Lee’s Summit’s finest. Preselected individuals with a lifetime of stories about our city will reminisce and share (in an informal, intimate setting)… Free - Bridge Space Lee's Summit 210 SW Market Street
October 25, 2026 | 9:30 am Boos Barks and Badges Downtown Lee’s Summit is bringing back the walking parade to their annual Boos, Barks & Badges event on Saturday, October 25th. Festivities will kick off at Green Street, starting with a Costume Contest at 9:30 a.m. Contestants will line up along the plaza for a chance to win awards in five categories. Join the walking parade down 3rd Street at 10 a.m. and stick around for fun and games in Howard Station Park.
November 7, 2026 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Annual Veterans Day Parade Celebrate 250 years of freedom and service with us in Downtown Lee's Summit on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 12:00 PM! This year's theme, "Legacy of Liberty: 250 Years of the American Spirit," brings our nation's history to life with marching units, floats, and community entries spanning key eras of U.S. history. All are welcome…
7th Annual ATC Trivia Night registration is open and we are excited to host you all again this year. Come and enjoy the evening with us, it's always a great night with the best people! I've listed our event details, along with sponsorship opportunities, a discount code for hotel room rentals, an early bird special on ticket & whole tables and a fun little team themed competition I think "most" of you will enjoy: Can't wait to see everyone and celebrate another successful event with all of you!!
Now through September 30th, use promo code NERDALERT to receive 10% off individual tickets, or full table purchases New this year, Best in Theme Contest: Trivia is getting a little more competitive this year. We're encouraging each table to pick a theme and have some fun. Your group could show up as an 80's workout crew, characters from your favorite movie, a favorite sports team etc. During the event, guests will be able to donate to vote for their favorite themed team, just another fun and competitive way to raise funds to support our first responder community! At the end of the night, the team with the most support will be crowned the winner and earn our "new" ATC Trivia traveling trophy to display at their tabel next year - along with bragging rights! Link for special event pricing hotel room : https://res.windsurfercrs.com/ibe/details.aspx? propertyid=17262&nights=1&checkin=11/14/2026&group=TRIVIA2026&lang=en-us