Janet M. Thiessen, Chief of Police

Janet Thiessen is Chief of Police for the Olathe Police Department and is the first woman to hold that position. She has over twenty-one years of law enforcement experience. She was hired as a police officer for the Vancouver, Washington Police Department in 1981 and worked her way up the ranks to the position of Deputy Chief of Police. Olathe hired Chief Thiessen in August 2002.

The Chief will lead the department as it faces new challenges in the way of continued growth, new technology, and limited resources. The Chief has extensive police experience highlighted by expertise in: organizational management, strategic planning, community policing and problem solving and community involvement in public processes.

Chief Thiessen is a native of Beloit, Kansas. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Portland, Oregon. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has obtained numerous certificates from a variety of law enforcement training programs. Chief Thiessen has a strong sense of the best Midwest values along with a passion for inclusive, innovative and progressive thinking.

With the hiring of Chief Thiessen, the philosophy of only certain specialized units handling community policing efforts has changed. Chief Thiessen has tasked all members of the department to be involved in community policing. She believes that “community policing must be part of the culture and fundamental attitude of the entire department, which starts at the top and spreads throughout an organization.”

Chief Thiessen has said that “we must interact regularly with the members of the community, use quantitative statistics and sound business planning to determine the needs of the city and the most effective means to deliver them.” To that end, there are many units within the department that handle specific tasks, but each shares a common mission of serving the public