The Topeka Police Department

The TPD has always been a proud and trustworthy organization composed of good men and women. I am honored to have worked closely with many of them over the years. However, a couple of recent incidents have harmed the image of the department. The incident that occurred on St. Patricks Day 2008 involving four young off-duty officers and the Llamas brothers continues to fester in the local media. Here is the most recent story from the Cap-Journal.

A few weeks ago, another young off-duty officer was booked into jail for DUI. He has since resigned from the department.

The image of the Topeka Police Department will survive the damage done to it by these incidents, but the TPD owes it to the Topeka community to purge itself of the bad apples and do a better job of selecting young men and women to serve. Officers need comprehensive training and they need to understand that their actions, whether they are on-duty or off, always are a reflection on the entire organization.