Lt. Col. John Main Deputy Chief	Lt. Col. Brad Halsey Deputy Chief

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

The more than 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, 201 are commissioned police officers. Field officers are comprised of personnel from the Patrol, Traffic, Special Response Team (SRT) K-9 Units, and Community Services yielding a combined total of approximately 128 uniformed officers answering calls for service daily. Other officers are assigned to specialized policing that includes the Detective Unit, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), School Resource Officers (SRO), and D.A.R.E. Unit.

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 2008-2009 operating budget is $25,081,229, 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 30 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.