Police Transparency
Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement
ABLE enables a culture of transparency and accountability in law enforcement organizations to create an environment where officers routinely intervene as necessary to prevent misconduct, avoid police mistakes and promote officer health and wellness.
Officers and other Police Department staff are required to report any incidents of bias-based policing to their supervisors. Supervisors are responsible for maintaining awareness of actions, patterns, or practices of possible discriminatory treatment.
Review community and metropolitan demographic arrest data provided from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2022.
Automated License Plate Readers
Police Department use of Automated License Plate Reader technology is guided by written policy, clearly defined data retention limits, restricted access controls, human oversight of automated alerts, vendor accountability safeguards, and routine auditing procedures.
All 280 commissioned officers are issued a body-worn camera and are required to wear the camera while in uniform. This includes officers working in patrol, community policing, school resource, traffic and emergency services.
The Overland Park Police Department’s budget is part of the City of Overland Park’s overall annual budget.
The Overland Park Police Department first earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies in 2018 and has maintained compliance and accreditation each year after that. The department was re-accredited in 2022.
The Police Calls for Service Log provides a real-time view of recent, non-confidential calls handled by Overland Park Police Dispatch, updated regularly with a brief delay. Information is based on caller reports and is displayed with privacy protections in place.
The Overland Park Police Department invites the community to be involved in policing and get to know our officers and staff. There are a variety of ways for residents, visitors and others to engage with the department.
Overland Park Police staff work to provide professional services and compassionate support to everyone we encounter. Staff are expected to manifest the City’s core values of integrity, service commitment, respect, stewardship, relationship building, and pursuit of excellence in the work we do.
The Overland Park Police Department partners with many local police departments to share crime data on the Community Crime Map. Because Overland Park is a significant part of the Kansas City metropolitan area and Johnson County, it is beneficial to review crime data comprehensively across the region.
View documents relating to critical incidents in Overland Park.
The Overland Park Police Department strives to learn about and be a part of the variety of groups within the community we serve and how we can better offer our services in a culturally appropriate way.
De-Escalation and Response to Resistance
The use of force in law enforcement is an issue of critical concern nationally, in the Overland Park community and among law enforcement. Whenever possible and appropriate, an Overland Park Police officer’s first step is to de-escalate a situation. If that is not possible, officers may use the degree of control or force reasonably necessary to ensure a safe outcome.
The Overland Park Police Department values diversity and the perspectives diversity brings to the community and our operations. Our department strives to mirror the demographics of the community we serve.
Drone technology can improve public safety and emergency response. View the City's unmanned aircraft systems policy to learn how the Police Department uses drones to protect the community.
All Overland Park police officers agree to follow a code of ethics when they take their oath of honor. This code provides fundamental guidance for employees and the expectations of conduct and duty performance for all members of the Overland Park Police Department.
The Overland Park Police Department’s diligent hiring process ensures our officers uphold City values of integrity, service commitment, respect, stewardship, relationship building, and pursuit of excellence.
The Overland Park Police Department has a collaborative relationship with all law enforcement partners. However, the Overland Park Police Department does not enforce federal immigration law.
State and federal laws authorize the Overland Park Police Department to seize certain property related to criminal activity. Property may be seized to remove crime tools from criminal groups, take away illegal profits, help compensate victims and deter further crime.
Overland Park Police Department officers train annually on best practices for helping members of the public in crisis and strive to provide services that keep all people safe during interactions with people with mental illnesses.
The Overland Park Police Department is committed to providing officers with the appropriate resources and support during their day-to-day operations, and especially following a critical, unusual, or extreme event.
The Police Department understands there are calls nationally for police and criminal justice reform. The information on this page includes the Overland Park Police Department’s response and alignment to individual reform recommendations.
Overland Park school resource officers are sworn members of the Police Department who serve in middle and high schools in the city. They work in conjunction with school administration, security staff, and teachers to ensure a safe learning environment for everyone.
Standards of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures
In order for our practices to be as transparent as possible, the Overland Park Police Department provides online access to department policies and procedures.
Training is ongoing throughout the career of Overland Park Police Department staff members. Our training program consists of initial training, in-service training, and other ongoing professional development training opportunities.
The Overland Park Police Department is pleased to announce the completion of a pledge to enhance trust, accountability and collaboration between police and the community it protects and serves.