Michael Bushnell
Publisher

As the seasons change, so does command staff throughout the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department (KCPD), most notably at the city’s six patrol zones.

For the last 24 months or so the East Patrol Division (EPD) has been led by Major Doug Niemeier. He has been well liked among neighborhood and community leaders for being a hands-on problem solver for the Northeast community. Major Niemeier now heads up the department’s Violent Crime Division, an excellent fit given EPD is the largest and most active patrol zone in the department. Niemeier will be replaced by newly-promoted Major Kari Thompson.

Thompson’s name may be familiar to our readers as she was with the department’s Media Unit back in 2017-18. Thompson was promoted in the May 4 promotion and awards ceremony at the Police Academy at Shoal Creek Station. She comes to East Patrol from her assignment as Commander of the Department’s Homeland Security Unit.

Center Patrol (CPD) Major Ryan Mills is being replaced by newly-promoted Major Scott Simons. Simons moves over to CPD from his assignment as the department’s City Hall Liaison.

Mills, who was promoted to Major in February 2020, is no stranger to those in the Northeast community. He was assigned to the EPD as a captain. Mills has been transferred to command the department’s Tactical Response Units.

Interdepartmental transfers also moved captains at the Patrol Zones. The new EPD captains are Ben Caldwell on Watch I (overnights), Marcus Smith on Watch II (days) and Josh Heinen on Watch III (p.m. shift). The new CPD captains are Luther Young on Watch I, Ron Legg on Watch II and Captain Mike Glass on Watch III.