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Media Advisory
Unified Government Strategic Communications
701 N. 7th Street, Room 620
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
Ashley Z. Hand, Director Strategic Communications (913) 573-5544
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2021
Unified Government Advances Four Candidates for Police Chief
The search for a new KCKPD police chief continues with this week’s assessment center.
Tonight, Thursday, April 15, 2021, at 5:00PM, the Unified Government Commission will meet and ask
questions of the top four (4) candidates for Chief of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. The public is
invited to attend the special session which will be broadcast virtually via YouTube and UGTV. Login
information for this evening’s special session is below.
The four candidates for Kansas City, Kansas Police Department Chief are:
• Rich Austin, Chief of Police, Milton Police Department (Milton, GA)
• Vince E. Davenport, Associate Deputy Director, US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice
Assistance (Washington, DC)
• Karl A. Oakman, Deputy Chief, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department (Kansas City, MO)
• Pamela Waldeck, Deputy Chief, Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (Kansas City, KS)
Starting yesterday, the four candidates are participating in an assessment center facilitated by the Unified
Government administration. This is a multi-step, multi-day intensive process that includes simulated
exercises; group interviews with neighborhood groups, the police union, and police command; neighborhood
tours; and interviews with the County Administrator Doug Bach, as well as this evening’s Special Session
presentation with the Unified Government Commission. The assessment center gives candidates the
opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities in real-time while also meeting key community and
organization stakeholders.
The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department responds to over 380,000 calls for service annually in service to
the residents and businesses of Kansas City, KS. The department has adopted many best practices and
standards in terms of community policing, department response to issues, and cutting-edge technology. The
incoming police chief will have an opportunity to build upon these practices while fostering a more diverse
police force and readiness for the future. Interim Chief of Police Michael York has been leading the
department while the search for a new chief is underway and is looking forward to his retirement at the end
of this year.
For more information about the year-long process to shortlist candidates for this important position, please
check out our website: KCKPD Chief Search – Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City
The final selection of the next Kansas City, Kansas Police Department chief will be made by the county
administrator in May 2021.
Unified Government of Wyandotte County
Chief of Police Candidates [APRIL 2021]
Rich Austin
CHIEF OF POLICE, MILTON POLICE DEPARTMENT (MILTON, GA)
Dr. Rich Austin has been serving as the Chief of Police of the nationally
accredited Milton, GA Police Department in the Atlanta metro area
since 2017. During his tenure in Milton, he has developed a strong
reputation as an innovative, accessible, community-oriented leader
with a passion for public service. Under Austin’s leadership, the City of
Milton has maintained its rank as one of the safest communities in
Georgia. Prior to his service in Milton, Dr. Austin served for 25 years
with the 2,000-member Charlotte-Mecklenburg (NC) Police
Department where he worked in a variety of command roles including
Area Commander, Watch Commander, Executive Officer of the
Administrative Services Bureau, Executive Officer of the Field Services
Bureau (Patrol), and Internal Affairs Commander.
Dr. Austin holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Master of Public
Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, a
Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of
Cincinnati, and a Doctor of Public Administration from California
Baptist University. In addition, he has degrees in both music and
Christian education. Dr. Austin is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command
and the Senior Management Institute for Police and serves on the adjunct faculties of Reinhardt University and
California Baptist University.
Vince E. Davenport
ASSOCIATE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE (WASHINGTON
D.C.)
Vince Davenport serves as a senior official within the U.S. Department
of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. BJA provides national
leadership in criminal justice policy, training, and technical assistance
for state, local, and tribal law enforcement. He oversees the Law
Enforcement Division and its $1B portfolio of programs and services
along with its team of Senior Policy Advisors and scientists.
Davenport previously served four years as the Supervisory Senior
Policy Analyst for the Department of Justice, Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) where he worked to
implement the principles and recommendations of the President’s
Twenty First Century Policing Report. While serving at the COPS
Office, he received the Attorney Generals Award for Outstanding
Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety.
Prior to joining DOJ, Vince served with distinction for 25 years with the
Kansas City, KS Police Department where he held various positions of
responsibility including Acting Assistant Police Chief, Director of
Police Training, and commander of the Community Policing Unit.
Vince is fluent in Laotian and holds master's degrees in Public
Administration and International Studies from the University of Kansas.
Unified Government of Wyandotte County
Chief of Police Candidates [APRIL 2021]
Karl A. Oakman
DEPUTY CHIEF, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT (KANSAS CITY, MO)
Deputy Chief Karl Oakman has served on the Kansas City, Missouri
Police Department for 29 years, promoted to rank of deputy chief in
2017. Throughout his career, he has developed successful initiatives
focusing on inclusion, community policing, youth engagement,
recruitment and officer wellness. Deputy Chief Oakman currently
commands the Patrol Bureau which consist of six Patrol Divisions, KCI
Airport Division, Special Operations Division, Traffic Division, KCPD
Social Services, Crisis Intervention Team and Detention Services. He is
responsible for the management and leadership of 1,025 sworn and
civilian employees. He was previously the Administration Bureau
Commander, overseeing the Regional Crime Lab, Human Resources
and Information Technology Divisions.
Oakman is a 2018 graduate of the prestigious Police Executive
Leadership Institute (PELI). He received a Bachelor Degree in
Psychology from Columbia College. Oakman is a member of the
International Association of Chiefs of Police, Missouri Chiefs
Association, and Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs Association. He
serves on the IACP Human and Civil Rights Committee and the Major Cities Chiefs Association’s Deputy Chief and
Technology Committees. Recognition includes: KMBC Channel 9 Gold Award for Valor, Kansas City, Kansas Police
Department Meritorious Service Award, Kansas Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police Silver Award for Valor, KCPD
Distinguished Service Medal, KCPD Meritorious Service Award, and five KCPD Special Unit Citations.
Pamela E. Waldeck
DEPUTY CHIEF, KANSAS CITY, KANSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT (KANSAS CITY, KS)
Pamela (Pam) Waldeck began her career with the Kansas City, Kansas
Police Department in 1997 and is currently the Deputy Police Chief,
Director of the Bureau of Operations. In 2019, Waldeck was promoted to
Deputy Chief as the 2nd in command, with accountability for managing
the daily operations of the Patrol Division & Community Support
Services Division including Community Policing, Narcotics, Special
Operations, CIT, and K-9, totaling approximately 245 personnel under
her command. She manages a $31M Bureau of Operations budget (in
collaboration with the Chief of Police), the overtime budget, daily &
annual bidding for position vacancies, probationary placement & field
training, and personnel issues including discipline and training. Waldeck
also serves as the Incident Commander for critical incidents and as
Acting Chief in the Chief’s absence. She owns decision-making for
manpower allocation, budget disbursement for equipment, critical
incident command, discipline, and terminations.
Prior to being promoted to Deputy Chief, Waldeck served as the
Assistant Chief of Police for two years and Captain for one year. She
negotiates, implements, and enforces the Collective Bargaining Agreement in collaboration with the Chief of Police.
Currently, Waldeck serves on the Board of Directors for the Sunflower House child advocacy center, as liaison to the
Enough is Enough violence awareness campaign with KCK Public Schools, as representative on the Wyandotte
County Justice and Equity Coalition, and member of the Metro Command Peer Support Team. Waldeck has a Master
of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Baker University, Bachelor of Science in Sociology/Criminology, Police
Executive Research Forum/Senior Management Institute for Police.
Unified Government of Wyandotte County
Chief of Police Candidates [APRIL 2021]
Event Login
Unified Government Commission Special Session
Thursday, April 15, 2021
5:00PM Central
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89105883421?pwd=QnZsSFZaeHl2Yk5qQm1vdlhjbUh5UT09
Passcode: 435602
Or One tap mobile:
US: +16699009128,,89105883421# or +12532158782,,89105883421#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715
8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or 888 475 4499 (Toll Free) or 877 853 5257 (Toll Free)
Webinar ID: 891 0588 3421
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kZHlAKAqc
Media Inquiries: Ashley Z. Hand, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Director of Strategic Communications
Unified Government of Wyandotte County
Cell: (913) 444-9722
azhand@wycokck.org
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