City of Shawnee

Chief Sam Larson joined the Shawnee Police Department in 1999. He served as a Patrol Officer, Traffic Safety Officer, STAR Team Officer, and Detective while an Officer on the Department. In 2005, Sam was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He has served as a Sergeant in Patrol, General Assignment Investigations, and in Dispatch / Technical Services. In 2014, Sam was promoted to Captain. Another promotion followed in 2015 to the rank of Major and he was assigned to the Patrol Division then Support Services Division. In 2019, he was promoted to Deputy Chief and in 2020 he was appointed Chief of Police.

Chief Larson graduated from Washburn University with an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas and is a 2017 graduate of the Shawnee Tomorrow Leadership Program. He is a 2019 graduate of the 277th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. Chief Larson is a past President of the Kiwanis Club of Shawnee and is a current member of the Rotary Club of Shawnee. Chief Larson is a lifelong resident of Shawnee.

Deputy Chief Ben Mendoza has served the City of Shawnee as a Police Officer since 1997 where served as a Patrol Officer and Detective. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in December 2009. During his tenure with the City, Ben has served as a Patrol Sergeant, Tactical Team Leader and an Investigations Sergeant. He has also been involved with numerous training and leadership initiatives as well as the Kansas City Metro Squad and the Johnson County Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Team. In 2015, Ben was promoted to the rank of Captain and served as a Commander in the Special Operations Bureau, Staff Services Bureau in 2016, and Patrol Bureau in 2018 until promoted to the rank of Major in 2019. In 2020, Ben was promoted to Deputy Chief.

Deputy Chief Mendoza has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Avila College. In 2018, he graduated from the University of Kansas Law Enforcement Leadership Academy and Certified Public Manager Program. Ben is a 2019 graduate of the 142nd class of the Southern Police Institute. Ben completed the Shawnee Tomorrow Leadership course in 2019, and has been a resident of Shawnee since 1990.

Major Jason Brunner has served the City of Shawnee as a Police Officer since 2006, where he served in Road Patrol, Investigations, and the Special Investigations Unit. Jason was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Patrol division in April 2014. In June 2015, Jason was promoted to the rank of Captain where he has served as the Road Patrol Bureau Commander, the Commander of the Investigations Bureau and the Staff Services Commander. In May of 2019, Jason was promoted to Major where he served as the Patrol Division Commander for five years. He currently serves as the Support Services Division Commander.

Major Brunner received his Bachelor's Degree of General Studies from the University of Kansas, his Master’s Degree of Organizational Administration from Mid America Nazarene University, holds a Certified Public Managers (CPM) certification from the University of Kansas, and a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia. Major Brunner is also graduate of the 287th session of the FBI National Academy. Major Brunner and his family are residents of Shawnee.

Major Jim Baker started his career with the Shawnee Police Department in 1999. He has served in Patrol, in Investigations and has been a member of the STAR Team as well as a Field Training Officer. Major Baker was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2007 where he served as a supervisor in both Patrol and the Traffic Safety Unit. Jim was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2017 and has been the commander of the Road Patrol Bureau, the Investigations Bureau, and Staff Services Bureau. In 2020, Jim was promoted to Major where he served as the Support Services Division Commander for four years. He currently serves as the Patrol Division Commander.

Major Baker graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University with a Bachelors Degree in Applied Organizational Leadership. In 2018, Major Baker earned the designation of Certified Public Manager through the University of Kansas. Jim is a long time Shawnee resident.

Captain Matt Seichepine has served the City of Shawnee as a Police Officer since 2008. He has served as a Patrol Officer, Directed Patrol Unit Officer and General Assignment Detective. In 2015, Matt was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he served as a Road Patrol Sergeant and Investigations Sergeant. In 2019, Matt was promoted to Captain where he served as Commander of the Professional Development Bureau and Special Operations Bureau. Matt currently serves as the Staff Services Bureau Commander.

Captain Seichepine is an alumni of the University of Kansas, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies in 2008, and his Master of Public Administration in 2020. Captain Seichepine also holds a Certified Public Manager (CPM) certification form the University of Kansas and is a 2024 graduate of the Shawnee Tomorrow Leadership program. Matt is a Shawnee resident.

Captain Steve Walsh began his career as a Shawnee Police Officer in 1999. Steve started out in patrol where he served as a field training officer. He worked a one-year rotation as a DUI enforcement officer in 2003. He transferred to the traffic safety unit full time in 2005 where he became a certified motorcycle officer and Traffic Crash Reconstructionist. Steve was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2015 where he was assigned to the Patrol Division. Later in 2015 he transferred back to the Traffic Safety Unit as the Traffic Sergeant. In 2019 Steve was promoted to the rank of Captain and served in the Investigations Bureau for two years and then as the Special Operations Bureau for one year. Steve now serves as the Professional Development Bureau Commander.

Captain Walsh was born and raised in Shawnee. After high school he attended the University of Central Missouri and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. In 2020, Captain Walsh earned the designation of Certified Public Manager through the University of Kansas.

Captain Shaun Miller has served the City of Shawnee as a Police Officer since 2003. As an Officer, he has served in Road Patrol, Investigations and Special Investigations. In 2014, Shaun was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he served in Patrol and in 2016 he transferred to Communications/Technical Services. In 2019, Shaun was promoted to the rank of Captain where he has served as Commander of the Special Operations Bureau, Staff Services Bureau, and Patrol Bureau. He is currently the Investigations Bureau Commander.

Captain Miller received his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Washburn University. He was born and raised in Shawnee and has been a lifelong resident in the area.

Captain Corey Wilburn has served the City of Shawnee as a Police Officer since 1996. During his time with the city, Corey has served as a Patrol Officer, Criminal Interdiction Unit, School Resource Officer, Detective and Patrol Sergeant. He has also been involved in leadership roles on the Kansas City Metro Squad and the Johnson County Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Team.

Corey was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2019. He has served as the Investigations Bureau Commander and Staff Services Bureau. He is currently the Commander in the Patrol Bureau.

Captain Wilburn received his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Missouri Western State University. 

Captain William Sanderson has served the City of Shawnee as a Police Officer since 2008 where he worked in Road Patrol, the STAR Team, Criminal Interdiction, and Investigations. During his time in the Investigations Bureau, Will became a member of the Kansas City Metro Squad and the Johnson County Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Team. In 2018, Will was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he supervised the Road Patrol and Investigations Bureaus. In 2020, Will was promoted to the rank of Captain and designated as the Road Patrol Bureau Commander. Since then he served as the Staff Services Bureau Commander and currently serves as the Special Operations Bureau Commander.

Captain Sanderson graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology.

Captain Nick Pike has served the City of Shawnee as a Police Officer since 2010 where he worked in Road Patrol, the STAR Team, Firearms Instructor, Criminal Interdiction, and Investigations. During his time in the Investigations Bureau, Nick became a member of the Kansas City Metro Squad and the Johnson County Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Team. In 2018, Nick was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he supervised the Road Patrol and Investigations Bureaus. In 2022, Nick was promoted to the rank of Captain and designated as the Road Patrol Bureau Commander.

Captain Pike graduated from Columbia Southern University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration.