About Us :: History

 The colorful history of law enforcement on the border in Kansas contains the names like Wild Bill Hickok, Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp. James Butler Hickok served as sheriff of Ellis County and occasionally as marshal of Abilene. William Bartholomew Masterson was sheriff of Ford County, and later became commissioner of peace in Dodge City. Wyatt Earp worked for the Dodge City and Wichita PD.
 
These first "law enforcement officers" from Kansas relied on their reputation and individual skills to perform their law enforcement duties effectively. Both individually and collectively, they had a profound and decisive impact on justice in Kansas in the 1970s. and 80. Over the past 100 years, law enforcement in Kansas has evolved to its current level of efficiency and professionalism. This progress is due in large part to the wisdom and leadership of many dedicated law enforcement leaders. Among them are nineteen police chiefs from all over the state, who met in 1964 to discuss and ultimately lay the foundation for the creation of a professional association " dedicated to the development of law enforcement."As a result of this meeting and subsequent efforts over the next few months, the official founding documents were prepared and presented to the Kansas secretary of state on May 21, 1965.

 The original signatories of the kacp founding agreement were directors John Kenyon (Overland Park), Frank Robertson (Arkansas City), Ramon house (Dodge City) and Jack Malden (Emporia). The founding agreement of the KACP states that the KACP is a non-profit corporation organized " to ensure closer official relations between police officers throughout the state, to ensure unity of action in police matters; to raise the level of police institutions and the police profession in general; to conduct humanitarian law enforcement efforts; to support the development and improvement of the Unified police identification of prisoners and their treatment.; and encouraging cooperation with any other professional police organization that supports the above aims and objectives, to request and receive funds to achieve the above objectives, if necessary, and to buy, own or sell real estate, real estate or persons to achieve the above objectives, if necessary." In the more than 40 years since its birth, the kacp has grown from 19 to over 400 members.

 Many valuable programs and valuable services have been developed, implemented, improved and expanded, as reflected in other sections of this website. What hasn't changed is the commitment and dedication of law enforcement leaders in Kansas to improve efficiency and ensure professionalism.

Past and present... you couldn't be in better company. See the list of past presidents.