Kearney Schools Receive Unfounded Threats

The Kearney School District was among many in the metro area that received threats or anonymous tips of threats this week. An investigation by Kearney Police and school officials determined any threat made to schools this week to be unfounded.

The Kearney School District received an anonymous tip on Wednesday, September 11, through the state’s Courage2Report system. The threat concerned a possible threat involving one of the schools.

School Resource Officer Adam Kirkland, law enforcement and administrators conducted a thorough investigation after the tip was reported. They determined the threat to be unfounded. Classes at Kearney schools were held as usual, but with a heightened police presence.

In an unrelated incident, a man who had multiple warrants was stopped and arrested by the Clay County Sheriff's Office at Dogwood Elementary School on Thursday, September 12.

A deputy ran the man's plates and was alerted he had outstanding warrants. The deputy stopped the man, and he pulled into the parking lot of Dogwood Elementary. The man said he had a student at the school but quickly admitted he lied.

The man had warrants for non-violent offenses.

The Kearney School District encourages parents and guardians to speak with their students about the seriousness of school safety. If parents or students become aware of information about a concern or threat, the best course of action is to report that directly to the school or the district. Anonymous tips can be shared using the Scholastic Crime Stoppers program by calling (816) 474-TIPS or visiting KCCrimeStoppers.com.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Teen Charged After Shooting into Homes

18-year-old Connor Landie of Riverside is in the Clay County Detention Center after allegedly shooting into two Kearney homes on Monday.

Kearney police officers arrested after Landie became a person of interest in the investigation of shots fired in the 1200 block of Geneva Circle.

Officers were initially called to the homes just after 9 am on Monday, September 2 on a report of property damage. Police discovered the homes had been hit multiple times.

Police reports were submitted to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office and Landie was charged with unlawful use of a weapon by firing into an occupied dwelling, a Class B felony.

Landie was taken into custody without incident on Tuesday, September 3, and is currently being held in the Clay County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

School District Prioritizes Security with Personnel Changes

During its Aug. 21 business meeting, the school board signed off on two items designed to help meet the safety and security objectives in Kearney School District’s five-year strategic plan.

The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Kearney to provide a School Resource Officer (SRO) for the district. District and city officials collaborated over several months to update the MOU, which dates back to 2014.

District Superintendent Emily Miller

The most important change to the MOU is that the District’s SRO will now be an employee of the city and report directly to the Kearney Police Department. District administration will have input on the selection process and work collaboratively with the Chief of Police and City Administrator regarding the SRO’s duties. Kearney School District will reimburse the city for the SRO’s time spent within the school district.

In addition, a motion to designate a district employee as a School Protection Officer (SPO), which is allowed under state law, was also approved by the board.

“It just gives the school district some flexibility to add additional safety and security personnel,” Superintendent Emily Miller said.

The SPO can perform functions similar to those of an SRO in schools. The only exception is the ability to make an arrest, which is reserved for law enforcement officers.

current KSD SRO Adam Kirkland

The plan is to have current KSD SRO Adam Kirkland become the district’s SPO, according to Director of Operations Erek Noland. KPD Ofc. Cameron Philip has been selected for the SRO position. It’s anticipated that he will start his new role in September.

Stakeholders identified increasing safety and security as a top priority in the district’s strategic plan. The administration made difficult budget decisions in order to find the resources to expand KSD’s safety and security team.

Dr. Miller assured the board that staff members, students and families won’t see a decrease in the level of service from the new SRO. In fact, the revised MOU combined with the addition of an SPO means that KSD will now have two trained safety and security professionals on-site.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Police Department Announces Promotions of Seven Officers

The Kearney Police Department is excited to announce the promotion of seven experienced professionals following a rigorous promotion process that concluded in July. These promotions reflect the officers’ exceptional service, leadership and commitment to Kearney. The newly promoted officers are:

- Corporal Charles Leach - promoted to the rank of Sergeant. 

- Detective Blake Westerfield - promoted to the rank of Detective Corporal. 

- Officer Jeff Parton - promoted to the rank of Corporal. 

- Officer Phillip Lamanna - promoted to the rank of Corporal. 

- Officer Mark Taylor - promoted to the rank of Corporal. 

- Officer David Parker - promoted to the rank of Corporal.

- Officer Austin Dotson - promoted to the rank of Corporal. 

seven experienced professionals completed a rigorous promotion process that concluded in July.

Police Chief Mark Thomas, expressed pride in the newly promoted officers, stating, “These promotions are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our officers. Each of them has demonstrated their dedication to the principles of integrity, compassion, service and teamwork. I am confident they will excel in their new roles and continue to serve Kearney with professionalism and distinction.”

The promotion process involved a series of evaluations, including written exams, interviews and the submission of a resume highlighting their experience, training, education, and community involvement. The promoted officers stood out for their exemplary performance and readiness to take on greater responsibilities.

In addition to the promotions, two police officers have been assigned to new positions. Officer Caleb Nelson has been assigned as a detective in the Investigations Unit and Officer Cameron Philip will be the new School Resource Officer at the Kearney School District.

The Kearney Police Department remains committed to fostering a culture of growth and excellence to ensure that our officers are well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of Kearney. 

These officers will be recognized at Kearney City Hall for their achievement at the August 19, 2024, Board of Aldermen Meeting. 

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Kearney Appoints Thomas as Police Chief

The Kearney Board of Aldermen appointed Mark Thomas the new Police Chief at their August 5 meeting. The Aldermen approved Mayor Randy Pogue’s recommendation to make Thomas interim appointment permanent.

Kearney Police Chief Mark Thomas - Submitted Photo

Chief Thomas has been serving as the Interim Police Chief since March 6, 2024, and has demonstrated a commitment to community-focused leadership, professionalism and transparency within the department.

“I am solidly committed to the citizens of Kearney and look forward to working alongside our dedicated officers to ensure the safety and security of our community,” said Chief Thomas. “Together, we will build on the successes of the police department and address the challenges ahead with transparency, accountability and a commitment to excellence.”

Chief Thomas brings more than 42 years of law enforcement experience to the role, having previously served for the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Clay and Plate County Sheriff's Offices and the State of Missouri Department of Labor Worker’s Compensation Fraud Detection Unit. In his short tenure as Interim Chief, he has already adopted a formal promotion process for officers in the department to ensure that the process is transparent and that promotions are based on experience and performance, and he has focused on improving training opportunities for Kearney officers.

Mayor Randy Pogue is excited at Thomas’ appointment.

“It gives me great pleasure that the Board has accepted my appointment of Mark Thomas as Police Chief,” said Mayor Pogue. “I am enthusiastic about the initiatives Chief Thomas is undertaking to improve the police department’s performance, productivity and connections with the community. Chief Thomas is a strong leader with an excellent track record of fighting crime. This is truly exciting for our community.”

Chief Thomas is a graduate of Park University, having earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration, graduating with distinction. He has lived and worked in the Kearney community for more than 34 years, raising his family here. His commitment to the Kearney community has been solidified over the years.

More than 30 years ago, the Kearney community helped fundraise enough money to afford a liver transplant for his daughter that saved her life.

“I owe a debt to the Kearney community due to its overwhelming support during that difficult time that I will never be able to repay,” states Chief Thomas. “The Kearney police chief position gives me an opportunity to pay forward some of the kindness the community offered my family.”