City of Overland Park opening nationwide search for new police chief

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) - After a heated confrontation coincided with the resignation of Overland Park’s police chief in September 2023, the city is taking a thorough, community-based approach to refilling the role.

The city announced on Monday that it has hired Public Sector Search and Consulting, a recruiting firm that specializes in helping cities find police leaders, to help them find a new police chief.

Over the next several weeks, the firm will work with Overland Park city and community leaders to outline the role’s job duties. The project team will determine the skills and values that are most important to the community before they open applications to nationwide candidates.

Overland Park City Manager Lori Curtis Luther said they hope a well-defined talent profile will help applicants understand what the city and community are expecting from their future police chief.

“It is extremely important that we engage the community to learn what residents and visitors want in a Police Department leader,” Luther said. “Police officers earn public by living our community’s values. I am eager to hear their thoughts and begin our search in earnest.”

This search comes months after Frank Donchez, the claims he was not forced to resign, but chose to step down after a heated exchange with Overland Park resident Sheila Albers was made public.

Sheila Albers is the mother of John Albers, a teenager who was shot and killed by an Overland Park police officer in 2018.

In an email sent to city leaders in September 2023, Shiela Albers said Donchez made cruel remarks about her and her husband’s parenting after she pressed him for ability after a Monday evening City Council meeting.

“He said, ‘I am sure you and Steve tell everyone you were the best parents. I read the OISIT report.’ I replied with, ‘John struggled with his mental health.’ Donchez replied, ‘And you left him at his time of need.’”

Donchez resigned the next night but told the Washington Post in an interview that it was his choice. On Wednesday, the email was made public.

The final decision for Overland Park’s new police chief will come after a pool of candidates is selected and interviewed by a in the coming months.

ALSO READ: Kansas City to Grandview public bus route no longer offered

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.