Elizabeth Orosco
Northeast News

Effective Sunday, July 21, Kansas City Police Department’s East Patrol will see various changes in command, including a new major for the division.

Greg Volker, current KCPD East Patrol Major, will be moving to headquarters to take over the position of Violent Crimes Division Commander.

Captain Doug Niemeir will be taking his place. Niemeier was previously assigned as the department liaison with the City of Kansas City working out of the city manager’s office. He was a previous commander at East Patrol as a captain and started at East Patrol when he was an officer.

As Violent Crimes Division Commander, Volker will oversee four units: Homicide, Assault, Special Victims, and Robbery.

“Basically all violent crimes that occur within this city, I’ll be responsible for the investigation and coordination for case files and for submission of case files,” he said.

He said he believes it’s a good fit because he had previous experience working in violent crimes and working for the deputy chief in the investigations bureau.

Other command changes includes the transfer of day Captain Gideon Cody to the Traffic Investigation Unit at the South Patrol Complex, p.m. Captain Jeffrey Hughley will be taking Cody’s position as day Captain, and a newly-promoted Captain, Nathan Simecek, will be taking over as p.m. Captain for Hughley.

Volker said he does not see any transition issues with the new major taking over at East Patrol.

“Luckily, Chief Smith, Captain Niemeir, and myself are cut from the same cloth. We choose to work here. This was a place that Captain Niemeier wanted to come work.”

He said the Northeast is different than any other community that he works with.

“It’s long-term, historic, successful communities,” he said. “When I first came, it was an eye-opening,

refreshing experience working with such dedicated people who are interested in their community.”

Volker joined East Patrol in June 2018, and over the last year, the department has seen a 25 percent decrease in crime.

He credits strong community relationships, communication, and his officers being dedicated to really understanding what the community wants and needs.

“Any commander coming here, the first thing you have to understand is that this is not a police department issue. Crime, disorder, fear of crime, this is a community issue and the police department, just like the community, is a piece to solve the problem. The longer and harder we work together, then the problem can be solved. It’s when we become separated and we don’t communicate is when more issues come up.”

He said while the reduction in crime is positive, he continually strives for improvement.

“Twenty-five percent is great, but there is still crime, and so we’re not done,” he said. “We are constantly reinventing ourselves and trying new things. We’ve had some successes, but how do we get better?”

Trena Miller, social worker stationed at KCPD East Patrol Division, said Major Volker has been paramount to the success of the social services program, which was recently created in early 2018.

“From my position, he has always, from day one, supported me and helped me figure stuff out,” she said. “He has always been a rock here.”

Miller said Volker has made lasting change in the division, and she hopes to continue that momentum moving forward.

“When he came in here, he really boosted morale with the officers,” she said, “crime stats decreased greatly, he has formed and built new relationships in the community, and he has really been a pillar to East. I hate to see him go.”

East Patrol’s Community Interaction Officer Greg Smith said Major Volker brought a lot of new ideas to the division on how to look at and address crime.

“He didn’t want to just move crime around, he wanted to solve crime and we have seen crime diminish under his leadership in some of our areas that have been crime-ridden,” Smith said. “He is passionate about the community and wanting to make the community a safer place. He wants people to be able to feel safe in their communities. That comes from his heart.”

Smith said behind the scenes, Volker had high expectations of the officers to engage the community.

“His expectations of us as officers are to get out in the community, be a part of the community, and work with the community because when we all work together, we solve crime, and that is what he is passionate about.”

Ultimately, Smith echoed Miller’s sentiment on this transition.

“I’m going to miss his leadership,” said Smith. “He is going to be dearly missed at East Patrol. We are going to build up on what he has brought there and keep that going with the community.”

Volker said despite the new role, he will continue to believe in the Northeast.

“No matter where I go, I always remember where I’ve been,” he said. “My heart and a piece of me will still be here. I still believe in the community and what they can do.”

When asked if he had any words for the Northeast community as he transitions out, he had this to say:

“It’s been my privilege to have been the division commander for East Patrol. I have learned more about how to deal with the community through the relationships that we’ve built, the partnership that was already here that we enhanced, and the ability to do some real problem-solving during my time here, which I know that will continue. I am very confident in the new commander coming in. Major Niemeier is a very approachable, understanding, hard-working individual who will continue to drive the officers and sergeants and commanders here to do the best for the community.”