INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Residents turned out Thursday for a community open house where the City of Independence introduced the four finalists for the position of Independence Police Chief. The event allowed members of the public to meet the candidates in person and speak one-on-one, part of a process city officials say is designed to incorporate community perspectives into the hiring decision.
City frames search as a community-centered process
City Manager Troy Anderson told attendees the administration has worked to make the search inclusive and deliberate. He said the city wanted residents’ voices to help identify the person who will lead the department into its next chapter and strengthen trust between officers and the community.
“We are excited to introduce these four candidates to the Independence community and give residents the opportunity to learn more about the leaders being considered to serve as our next Police Chief,” Anderson said. “We’ve been intentional throughout this process, and community input is an important part of identifying the right leader to support our officers, strengthen trust, and help guide the department into its next chapter.”
Finalists include law enforcement leaders with statewide and national experience
The City of Independence said the finalists were chosen following a nationwide search. According to materials provided by the city, three of the four finalists currently live and work in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
The city released brief biographies for each finalist. Two candidates’ biographies include their current leadership roles and long careers in policing:
- Chief Gregory Dull — Served as chief of police in Excelsior Springs since 2022. He spent more than 30 years with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, including time as acting deputy chief and leadership of professional development and research, training, traffic and patrol operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Park University and has completed executive training programs through the Police Executive Research Forum and FBI-LEEDA.
- Chief Steven Hebbe — Has been chief of police in Farmington, New Mexico, since 2014. His more than 35 years in law enforcement include service as a deputy chief with the Anchorage Police Department and 23 years in command positions. Hebbe holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from American Military University and bachelor’s degrees in education and business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
- Major Keith Kirchhoff — Identified in the city’s materials as a finalist with the rank of major. The city provided a brief bio for Kirchhoff as well but did not include full details in the materials released at the open house.
- Fourth finalist — The city confirmed there is a fourth finalist; city materials and the open house offered opportunities to meet that candidate, though a full biography was not included in the initial public summary released by the city.
What’s next in the selection process
City officials said they will consider the community feedback gathered at the open house as part of their evaluation. The exact timeline for interviews, additional public forums or a final appointment was not included in the city’s initial release.
Residents who attended were able to ask questions and express priorities they want the next chief to address, including officer support, community trust and departmental leadership. Those concerns align with the administration’s stated goals for identifying a candidate who can both support rank-and-file officers and strengthen relationships with Independence neighborhoods.
| Candidate | Current Role (as provided) | Notable experience |
|---|---|---|
| Gregory Dull | Chief, Excelsior Springs Police Department (since 2022) | 30+ years at Kansas City, Mo., PD; executive training |
| Steven Hebbe | Chief, Farmington, N.M., Police Department (since 2014) | 35+ years in law enforcement; deputy chief in Anchorage |
| Keith Kirchhoff | Major (bio provided) | City materials list him among finalists |
| Fourth Finalist | — | Named by city; full bio not included in initial release |
As the city proceeds, residents who could not attend the open house were encouraged to follow official city channels for updates and for any additional opportunities to provide input. The selection of the police chief will shape Independence’s public safety leadership for years to come, affecting departmental policy, training priorities and community-police relations.
The city’s emphasis on public involvement underscores an awareness among officials that hiring a chief is not only an internal administrative decision but a civic one that touches neighborhoods across Independence.
