Dawn Layman Named New Lenexa Chief of Police

Dawn Layman Named New Lenexa Chief of Police
Posted on 12/03/2020
Dawn LaymanCity Manager Beccy Yocham has announced the appointment of Deputy Chief Dawn Layman to serve as the new chief of police for the City of Lenexa.

Layman is a 27-year veteran of the Lenexa Police Department. In her role as chief of police, Layman will lead nearly 150 sworn and civilian personnel in the Police Department and serve on the executive leadership team for the City of Lenexa.

Layman is the fourth person to serve as Lenexa’s police chief and her appointment follows the retirement of Chief Thomas Hongslo, who retired after a distinguished 31-year career in law enforcement. Layman will begin her new role on Dec. 18, 2020.

“The police chief holds an important role for Lenexa and we know that Dawn will excel leading this department,” said Yocham. “Our residents have great confidence in our Police Department and Dawn’s strong belief in community-based policing principles will help ensure we keep that trust.”

“I am certainly humbled to continue to serve the Lenexa community in this new role,” said Layman. “I am grateful for the mentorship and opportunities provided to me by my predecessors Chief Hongslo and Chief Hanson during my career. I am honored to lead our agency into the future and continue to work alongside some of the most dedicated and professional men and women in law enforcement. The members of the Lenexa Police Department are committed to providing exceptional service on a daily basis to all.”

Layman began her career as a patrol officer with the Lenexa Police Department in 1993. In addition to her time in patrol, Layman also had assignments as a bike officer, a directed patrol officer and a detective. Over the course of her career, Layman was promoted to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and deputy chief.

Prior to coming to Lenexa, Layman was an officer with the West Chester University (Pennsylvania) Police Department, where she was named Rookie of the Year in 1991 and Officer of the Year in 1992. She also worked as a part-time police officer with both the East Fallowfield and Kennett Square Borough (PA) police departments.

Layman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas. Layman has also completed 15 hours of coursework towards a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. Layman is a graduate of the 59th session of the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police and a graduate of the 251st session of the FBI National Academy.

At the Lenexa Police Department, Layman spearheaded numerous technology and grant-writing initiatives which led to the early implementation of body-worn cameras in 2009, a license plate recognition program, a robust traffic camera network, a public-private security camera partnership, and crime analysis software vital to the department. Layman was also instrumental in the development of the department’s mentoring program, pairing new hires with current employees.

In 2015, Layman was named the Motorola Woman Law Enforcement Executive of the Year by the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.

Layman serves as Vice-Chair for the Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation, a national organization whose mission is to foster hope by uniting survivors of law enforcement suicide to support one another and honor our fallen heroes. She is also member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Peace Officers Association, and previously served as President for the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.

Published Dec. 3, 2020