A new police chief, Karl Oakman, was named today for Kansas City, Kansas.
Karl Oakman, deputy chief of the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, was chosen for the new police chief.
Oakman, during an announcement, said he wanted young people to know they can achieve their goals and dreams. He encouraged adults to mentor young people.
“Look at myself, a young man who grew up in the housing projects in Argentine,” Oakman said. “I’m returning 30 years later as chief of police of that same community. And that was only the result of adults taking the time to lead and guide me in the right direction.”
Oakman’s father died when he was 6 and his mother died when he was 11.
“This community was able to comfort me, give me the resources and support me to make me the person I am today,” Oakman said.”I see this as an opportunity to give back to the community that raised me.”
He said he planned to start his new job in June.
Oakman said he had three goals for the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department: strengthen relationships with all members of the community to reduce crime, improve trust and recruit; continue to develop a diverse professional work force through transparency, officer training and career development; and improve efficiency through the use of technology and resource allocation.
Oakman, who grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, has served as deputy chief of the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department since 2017. He has been a member of that department for 29 years.
He commanded the Kansas City, Missouri, patrol bureau including six patrol divisions, the KCI airport division, special operations, traffic, social services, crisis intervention and detention services.
UG Administrator Doug Bach said the city has been working on selecting a new chief for about a year and a half.
“There are few roles in city government as integral in a city as the chief of police,” Mayor David Alvey said.
Oakman led community policing, youth engagement and other initiatives in Kansas City, Missouri, Bach said.
The other finalists were Rich Austin, chief of police of Milton, Georgia; Vince E. Davenport, associate deputy director of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Washington, D.C.; and Pamela Waldeck, deputy chief, Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.
The announcement was held at City Hall. The story is based on a Facebook video of the announcement at https://www.facebook.com/cityofkck/videos/463775044710066.