City Manager Craig Owens announced today that Interim Police Chief Anthony Brixius will step down, and Owens will promote Captain Adam Heffley as the next Interim Police Chief; effective Sunday, April 25, 2021.
“Anthony has done an outstanding job as interim chief during an exceptionally challenging year,” said City Manager Craig Owens. “Moving forward, Anthony will serve an integral role in the selection process for the new permanent chief. I am certain that Adam Heffley will step into the interim position confidently and provide a seamless leadership transition for the department.”
After stepping down as Interim Police Chief, Anthony Brixius will return to his duties as a Captain in the Office of the Chief of the Lawrence, Kansas Police Department.
“Serving our employees and the community as the Interim Chief for nearly a year has been a tremendous honor,” said Brixius. “I am grateful for all the support I have received in our agency, across City departments and in our community. I look forward to assisting Interim Chief Heffley and I am thankful he has chosen to take on this responsibility, which will allow me to meet some important family obligations.”
Adam Heffley has been with the Lawrence Police Department for 21 years and has served as part of the command team since 2013.
“I want to thank Captain Brixius for his steadfast leadership as Interim Chief during a very remarkable time in policing,” said Heffley. “City leadership, Captain Brixius and I are all committed to progress in the department through introspection, quality training, experience, and a thorough review of how we currently operate. Soon, that review will produce a blueprint which we, and the next permanent Chief, will use to create a new model of professional policing in Lawrence. This will undoubtedly leverage the talented and committed department members we have today and establish the needs required for the next generation of police officers.”
The City of Lawrence is currently working with CityGate Associates, LLC to develop a comprehensive study of the Lawrence, Kansas Police Department. The study will be presented to the City Commission in late spring. A national search for a new Police Chief is expected to begin within the next month.
Contact: Porter Arneill, Director of Communications and Creative Resources – parneill@lawrenceks.org | 785-764-3270