The City of Independence moved a step closer this week to naming a permanent leader for its police department by selecting four finalists following a nationwide search. The announcement comes as the department continues to recover from a turbulent period marked by leadership turnover, legal actions and the deaths of officers while on duty.
Finalists named after nationwide search
City officials selected four men to advance in the hiring process:
- Gregory Dull, chief of police, Excelsior Springs
- Steve Hebbe, chief of police, Farmington, New Mexico
- Major Keith Kirchoff, Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department
- Edward Turner, chief of police, Grain Valley
The finalists will participate in a public "meet the candidates" event and take part in panel interviews as the city evaluates who will lead the department full time.
Public forum set for Sept. 24
Residents will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback during a public session scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Midwest Genealogy Center, 3440 S. Lee's Summit Road. City leaders have said the forum is intended to allow community members direct engagement with those seeking the city's top law enforcement post.
"Residents can ask the candidates questions and give feedback," a city spokesperson said.
In addition to the public forum, the finalists will appear before selection panels. City officials have indicated a goal of naming a permanent police chief by the end of October.
Department context: turnover, lawsuits and officer deaths
The Independence Police Department has operated without a full-time permanent chief since Adam Dustman requested to leave the role in 2025. The city appointed Douglas Brinkley as interim chief in September 2025 while conducting the national recruitment effort.
The department's recent history includes lawsuits and the on-duty deaths of officers, events that have heightened scrutiny of leadership and prompted calls for stability. Among related matters reported publicly are a civil suit filed by an Independence police captain alleging discrimination involving older employees, and the loss of Officer Cody Allen, remembered by colleagues after he died while rendering aid.
Those issues underscore the challenges facing the next chief: rebuilding internal morale, addressing legal and personnel matters, and reinforcing community trust in public safety operations.
What comes next
Following the Sept. 24 public meeting and panel interviews, city officials will move toward a final selection process. The city has communicated an intention to have a new chief in place by the end of October, though officials have not provided a precise appointment date.
| Finalist | Current Position |
|---|---|
| Gregory Dull | Chief, Excelsior Springs Police Department |
| Steve Hebbe | Chief, Farmington, New Mexico Police Department |
| Major Keith Kirchoff | Major, Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department |
| Edward Turner | Chief, Grain Valley Police Department |
For Independence residents, the selection of a new police chief will have immediate implications for department priorities, community policing strategies and the handling of ongoing legal and personnel issues. The public meeting on Sept. 24 offers a direct avenue for citizens to question candidates about their approaches to these local concerns and to weigh in before the city moves to a final decision.
City officials encourage attendance at the Midwest Genealogy Center event so that community perspectives can be considered during the final stages of the hiring process.
