Independence Police Staff Organization

Lt. Col. John Main Deputy Chief	Lt. Col. David Lamken Deputy Chief

The Independence Police Department consists of six divisions which make up the department. By using the links to the left, you will find detailed information about each division.

The nearly 300 men and women of the Independence Police Department make up a full-service law enforcement agency serving the needs of all who live in, work in, and visit Missouri’s fourth largest city. Of this number, 203 are commissioned police officers. The Patrol Division is the largest component in the department with 102 police officers, followed by 46 officers in the Investigations Division, 20 officers in the Traffic Safety & Education Division, 26 officers in the Community Services Division, and eight officers assigned to the Chief’s Office.

The mission statement of the department is simple:

• To protect life, individual liberty, and the property of all people within the City of Independence;
• To develop and maintain a positive relationship with all members of the community;
• And, to foster a positive work environment for all employees of the department.

The police department is the largest of the 18 City departments. The 2002-2003 operating budget is $17,475,034, or about 30% of the City General Fund, which does not include the Water, Power & Light, and Water Pollution Control departments. 89% of our operating budget pays for salary & benefits, with the remaining 11 % used for operating costs. Nearly 41 positions are funded wholly or in part by outside funding sources to provide specialized services in schools, neighborhoods and the business community.

We are charged with providing a wide variety of community oriented services including the preservation of peace and order, enforcement of the law and ordinances, prevention and suppression of crime, detection and apprehension of violators of all laws and ordinances, incarceration of those sentenced to detention for municipal ordinance convictions or those awaiting formal charges from the state or federal level, and to perform other duties relating to public peace, order and safety.