Overland Park has named Doreen Jokerst, leader of the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department, as its next police chief. She will be the first woman to run the department. Jokerst, who has served for six years as the assistant vice chancellor for public safety and chief of police overseeing the Boulder campus, will replace former Overland Park police chief Frank Donchez, who resigned last year. The city spent several months conducting a national search for a new leader for the department, which included hearing from community organizations and neighborhood groups. “Doreen brings vast experience to our team, with service and expertise in a variety of policing roles. She is a lifelong learner and leader in modern, progressive community policing practices,” City Manager Lori Curtis Luther said. “I am confident her leadership and focus on inclusivity will improve our department, and our community, in the future.” Jokerst and her family will live in Overland Park, according to a city news release. Her first day will be in October. Under Jokerst’s leadership, the CU Boulder Police Department became the first local police department in Boulder County to gain national accreditation. Jokerst was named chief of the department in 2018. “Overland Park is an outstanding city with a premier police department, and I’m excited to work collaboratively with the community and all members of the organization,” Jokerst said in the release. “I am eager to begin working with our officers and the community, and to call Overland Park home.” Prior to serving at the university, Jokerst spent nearly 20 years at the Parker Police Department in Colorado, where she rose to the rank of commander, according to the release. She holds a Doctor of Education degree in Leadership for Educational Equity, Higher Education, a master’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Source: KC Star Local News
