Johnson County Park & Recreation District: Park Administration: Park Safety and Law Enforcement Links

The mission of the Johnson County Park Police is to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Johnson County by providing effective, community-centered public safety, resource protection, visitor services, cultural and environmental education and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Our vision is to continuously seek excellence in law enforcement and interpretation to protect people and resources.

Enhance the Quality of Life
Our commitment to Quality of Life reflects our belief that the citizens and families of Johnson County are entitled to the same quality of law enforcement services in their parks as in their homes.

The District hires and trains according to the same standards as the County
Sheriff and city police departments.

Service quality is enhanced by law enforcement officers who choose to work in
parks as a career.

Effective Community-Centered Public Safety
Our commitment to Effective Community-Centered Public Safety involves not only patrolling the parks and investigating crimes, but also:

Planning for law enforcement services that embraces the goals of the District and
the needs of the public.

A Park Watch program that includes timely crime prevention programs for park
patrons and neighbors.

Safety reports of all District properties to identify and repair hazards to employees
and the public.

Developing and maintaining emergency operations plans.

Conducting site-specific crime prevention programs for visitors and employees.

Resource Protection
Our commitment to Resource Protection requires enforcing park codes, state fish and wildlife laws and administering District fishing and boating permits as part of an integrated program that includes:

Understanding threats to natural resources and reporting resource damage that
indicates and underlying or emerging problem.

Using educational backgrounds, experience and training in both law enforcement and
natural resources in planning development of park lands and facilities to help
assure an appropriate balance between usage and resource conservation.

Monitoring and reporting on conditions that affect park resources or public use,
such as creek checks that may result in changes to fishing regulations or stockings of
species.

Visitor Services
Our commitment to Visitor Services ranges from explaining where and why the fish are biting to responding to questions about park codes, and regularly includes:

Responding with specific information to visitor inquiries about District facilities,
events, recreation programs and class offerings, and whom to contact to participate.

Solving problems for park visitors, which may mean resolving a shelter reservation
conflict or using knowledge of the area and past experience to reunite lost parents with
children.

Facilitating entry into buildings and facilities for groups and individuals by
prearrangement or on call.

Cultural and Environmental Education and Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
Our commitment to Cultural and Environmental Education and Outdoor Recreation Opportunities compliments our law enforcement responsibilities and includes:

Increasing appreciation of natural and cultural resources in Johnson County
by providing opportunities for people to learn or participate in a variety of outdoor
activities.

Researching and developing new educational programs offered to school groups and the
general public.

Planning, organizing and leading trips for the public such as birding trips to the Konza
Prairie or to see sandhill cranes in Nebraska.

Creating displays and exhibits for the Ernie Miller Nature Center, presenting outdoor
amphitheater programs during summer evenings or brief talks to groups such as scouts at
campgrounds or groups at park shelters. We are proud of over fifty years of excellent
law enforcement and park visitor services provided to Johnson County citizens and
District patrons. We are dedicated to preserving that tradition in the future.

Law Enforcement links graphic

Park Police Officer on Duty
Emergency 911
Non-Emergency (913) 782-0720

Witness an Incident:
Dispatcher (913) 782-0720

Chief Dan Field
Park Police Chief

Captain Terry Anderson
Operations Commander

Park Police Headquarters
Shawnee Mission Park
7900 Renner Road
Shawnee Mission, KS 66219-9723
(913) 438-7275