Doreen Jokerst, Chief of Police, City of Overland Park
Doreen Jokerst was sworn in as Overland Park’s first female police chief in the city’s history in October of 2024. Since that time, she has instilled her own set of values about what a police force should look like and act like. Chief Jokerst had three priorities when she took over the position: Internal Culture; Community Engagement; and Technology.
She arrived from Boulder, Colorado, after serving as the assistant vice chancellor for public safety and chief of police for the University of Colorado. Her tenure included responding to having the new, yet highly recognizable football coach, Deion Sanders, on campus. “I became well-versed in learning to protect a high profile figure and represent our department well.”
Doreen holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master’s degree in psychology, and a doctor of education degree in leadership for educational equity. Clearly qualified and equally eager, she has made it perfectly clear how she wants to accomplish her three goals. Doreen has established an internal culture of gratitude, “I know how to say ‘thank you’ to an officer who worked on a holiday, or thank a family member whose partner missed a graduation ceremony. I am so appreciative of their sacrifices.” She has also made herself available for meet and greets, coffees, and speaking engagements. Doreen knows how important it is to put a face and a name to the title of Chief of Police. And, she has dug in to make technology a partner in the department. She uses drones, for example, to help the force with keeping abreast of a situation. She also knows how important up-to-date technology is for recruiting officers in a highly competitive environment.
In addition to all of that, Doreen is a wife and mother of two girls, one in college and one in high school. Her husband works in law enforcement in Denver, so they have a commuter family structure, but she said, “We make it work! He loves his job, and I love mine. I guess work-life balance is my biggest challenge at this point!”
The chief’s parting words about being in her position were, “I want a visible culture of support. A great job, when done with integrity, can have an enormously positive impact.” She added, for any young females interested in law enforcement, “Be yourself. Don’t doubt who you are, just be your own person.” Great advice, Chief Jokerst.
Featured in the March 21, 2026 issue of The Independent
By: Anne Potter Russ
