Meet the Staff

Chief Rick Potter was sworn in at the John B. Glaser Fire Station on June 29, 2020.

Potter recently served as the Deputy Fire Chief for the City of Pueblo, Colorado and has served more than 30 years in the fire service. Potter joined the Pueblo Fire Department as a firefighter in 1990. He moved up the ranks and has served in several leadership roles throughout his career. Potter earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Services Administration and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and also serves as a Peer Assessor Team Lead with Center for Public Safety Excellence and a Peer Reviewer with Commission on Professional Credentialing.

Potter says he’s excited for this next step, adding "It is an honor to be selected to serve as the next Shawnee Fire Chief. The Shawnee Fire Department has a long history of professionalism, excellence, and community involvement. These qualities are very important to me. I am excited about the opportunity to serve the community alongside the men and women of the fire department and the City’s leadership team, and I look forward to becoming part of the Shawnee family."

Chief Potter and his wife Margaret have four children and three grandchildren.

Fire Marshal Sands Deputy Chief Sands started his career with the City of Shawnee in 1997 as a volunteer firefighter. In 1999 he became a career firefighter with the City of Shawnee and in 2002 became the Shawnee Fire Prevention Officer. In 2012 he was promoted to Fire Marshal and was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2020.
Chief Sands studied at Johnson County Community College’s Fire Science program, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management and Human Relations from Mid America Nazarene University, and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University.

Chief Sands oversees all fire and explosion investigations within the City of Shawnee, building fire and life safety plan reviews, fire inspections, public fire and life safety education, City of Shawnee Youth Firesetter Intervention courses, Fire Code adoption, and testifies as an expert witness in Courtroom proceedings that involve fire and explosions. Chief Sands is an active member in local, state and national organizations.

Deputy Chief Ryan Pyle started his career as a volunteer Firefighter with the City of Shawnee in 1997. He became a full-time Firefighter in 1999 and promoted to the rank of Fire Captain in 2006, Battalion Chief in 2012 and the current rank of Deputy Chief in 2020.

Deputy Chief Pyle holds an Associates Degree in Fire Administration from Johnson County Community College, a Bachelor's Degree in Management and Human Relations from Mid American Nazarene University, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas.
Deputy Chief Pyle was designated an Executive Fire Officer by the National Fire Academy in 2013 and a Chief Fire Officer by the Center for Professional Credentialing in 2014. Deputy Chief Pyle is an active member in many operational and administrative functions for the City of Shawnee and Johnson County. He currently serves as the Chair of the Johnson County Operations Chiefs and is proud to serve the citizens of Shawnee.

Emergency Services Chief Matt Epperson Division Chief Matt Epperson began his career with the Shawnee Fire Department as a volunteer in 1998. He was hired as a fulltime firefighter in 1999 and promoted to Captain in 2012. Matt was promoted into his current position in 2016. As the Division Chief of Emergency Management, Chief Epperson is responsible for overseeing several programs acting as the Emergency Management liaison for the city, managing the Community Support Team (CST), and the Citizen Fire Academy.

Chief Epperson attained his Associate’s degree in Fire Service Administration from Johnson County Community College; his Bachelor’s degree in Management and Human Relations from MidAmerica Nazarene University; and his Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas. He is also a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program through the National Fire Academy. Matt is recognized as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Commission on Professional Credentialing.

Chief Epperson is an active member of the International Association of Emergency Managers, Kansas Emergency Manager’s Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Heart of America Accreditation Task Force, as well as serving on a number of Johnson County EMS and Emergency Management committees.

Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Colby Stanchfield began his fire career as a volunteer with the Paola Fire Department in 2007, where he is still an active member. Colby was hired as a full-time firefighter by Johnson County Fire District #2 in 2008. Colby climbed through the ranks and was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2019. In November 2021, Johnson County Fire District #2 split, and half of the members went to the Overland Park Fire Department, and the other half went to Johnson County Fire District #1. Colby became the EMS Chief for Fire District #1. In 2023, Colby was promoted to Deputy Chief of Administration, Finance, and EMS.

Colby started with the Shawnee Fire Department in June 2024. Colby is responsible for overseeing the credentialing, training, certification, and patient care provided by all levels of EMS providers of the Shawnee Fire Department. Additionally, he serves as the EMS liaison between the Shawnee Fire Department and the Johnson County Medical Director's office, Johnson County Med-Act, and other Fire and EMS agencies throughout Johnson County.

Colby holds an Associate's degree in Applied Science - Paramedic from Kansas City Kansas Community College. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Washburn University.

Chief Stanchfield serves on the EMS Advisory Board at Kansas City Kansas Community College and serves on a number of Johnson County EMS committees.

Chief Stanchfield resides in Paola, Kansas with his wife Elizabeth, and three children, Carter, Cooper and Charley. Chief Stanchfield is proud to be a part of the Shawnee Fire Department and serve the citizens of Shawnee.

Battalion Chief David Wolff

Battalion Chief David Wolff started his career with the Shawnee Fire Department in 2000 and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2011. In 2019, he was promoted to his current position as Battalion Chief.

Chief Wolff holds an Associate's Degree in Fire Science from Kansas City Kansas Community College. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Management and Human Relations from Mid-America Nazarene University.

Battalion Chief Wolff was designated a Fire Officer by the Center for Professional Credentialing in 2016 and obtained his Managing Fire Officer credential from the National Fire Academy in 2017. Chief Wolff has been involved with many aspects of firefighter training during his career with the SFD. He was the Lead Instructor for SFD's Cadet Academy and developed many of the firefighting training props. David is a huge advocate for firefighter safety and taught firefighter safety classes to other fire departments across the state. He has been a member of the Technical Rescue Team and the Water Rescue Team, and is currently in charge of managing the SFD Wildland Taskforce.

Battalion Chief Wolff currently resides in Shawnee with his wife Jennifer, and daughters, Abby and Hannah and is proud to serve the citizens of Shawnee.

Battalion Chief Quentin Hammontree began his career with the Shawnee Fire Department as a volunteer in 1999. He was hired as a full-time firefighter in 2001 and promoted to Captain in 2011. Quentin was promoted to his current position as B-Shift Battalion Chief in 2021.

Battalion Chief Hammontree holds a Bachelor’s Degree in both Management and Public Relations from Ottawa University. Quentin was designated Fire Officer by the Center for Professional Credentialing in 2016.

Battalion Chief Hammontree is responsible for Shawnee Fire Department’s Special Operations teams, as well as the Health and Wellness team.

Battalion Chief Darrin Nelson began his career with the Shawnee Fire Department as a volunteer Firefighter in 1993. He was hired as a fulltime Firefighter in 1996 and promoted to Captain in 2012. Darrin was promoted into his current position as C shift Battalion Chief in 2016.

Battalion Chief Nelson holds an Associates degree in Fire Administration from Johnson County Community College. He obtained a Bachelors degree in Public Administration from Mid American Nazarene University. Darrin was designated Fire Officer by the Center for Professional Credentialing in 2016.

Battalion Chief Nelson is responsible for Shawnee Fire Department’s Respiratory Protection Program and Special Operations Group (Technical and Water Rescue). The Shawnee Fire Department is a member of Kansas Search and Rescue Task Force #3. Battalion Chief Nelson is a lifelong resident of Shawnee is proud to serve its citizens.