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Topeka police chief outlines short‑, mid‑ and long‑term plan emphasizing community engagement and violent‑crime focus
Summary
Chief presented a three‑phase plan that pairs data‑driven violent‑crime efforts with expanded community policing, a public dashboard, revamped academy training and pilot programs including a community police team and consideration of a CAHOOTS‑style mental‑health response.
Chief Ijo told the Topeka governing body on May 13 that his first months have been focused on reorganizing command and launching initiatives he described as short‑, mid‑ and long‑term to address violent crime while increasing community engagement.
The plan centers on a 60‑day initiative the department has called the “police and community team,” an outreach‑led violent‑crime effort, plus a public‑facing performance dashboard, changes to the training academy and steps to grow community police officers and traffic motor resources.
Why it matters: The chief framed the approach as balancing enforcement and community trust. “Balancing violent crime with community engagement. They’re not mutually exclusive,” he said. City officials and council members pressed the chief on details of staffing, recruitment and existing co‑responder programs.
The chief defined…
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