Lawrence Police Department creates position devoted to diversity and community engagement

photo by: Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Police Officer Myrone Grady, right, gives a congratulatory handshake to Anthony Brixius during a promotion ceremony in May of 2012. Lt. Grady has been named executive officer of Diversity and Community Engagement, and Brixius has been promoted to deputy chief.

The Lawrence Police Department has announced changes to its organizational structure, including the creation of a new position in the chief’s office devoted to diversity and community engagement.

According to the announcement, which came this week in a memo to the Lawrence City Commission, Lt. Myrone Grady, who already is employed by LPD, has been named as the department’s first executive officer for diversity and community engagement.

The memo states that Police Chief Rich Lockhart “feels these changes, using existing resources, will be a valuable step forward to increase our visibility within the community and foster stronger relationships with organizations, partners, and stakeholders to ultimately accomplish our mutual goal of increasing excellence in police services to Lawrence residents.”

Lockhart also assigned student resource officers, who work in the schools, to Grady rather than returning them to patrol during the summer.

Two majors in the department, who also have served as interim police chiefs before Lockhart joined the force, will be promoted to the level of deputy chief. Major Anthony Brixius will lead the Patrol and Professional Standards divisions, among other duties, and Major Adam Heffley will lead the Investigations and Information Services divisions, among other duties.

photo by: Mackenzie Clark

Adam Heffley of the Lawrence Police Department discusses LPD’s draft policy on sexual assault investigations during an interview Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, at the Investigations and Training Center, 4820 Bob Billings Parkway.

The memo states that the fiscal impact of these changes, along with some additional command staff changes, is estimated to be approximately $17,000, which includes both salary and benefits estimates.

The changes go into effect on Sunday.