More Than a Uniform: In Memory of Violet

In April 2010, Lieutenant Amy Rhoads welcomed her daughter Violet into the world; one of the happiest days of her life. The devastating news that Violet was born with Acute Myeloid Leukemia came too soon. For six months, Rhoads and her husband—also a police officer—endured NICU stays, treatment visits, and tragedy they had never seen or experienced.

When Violet passed away in October of that year, the world stopped. But the Lawrence Police Department didn’t just send flowers; they moved in.
“I don’t know how he found out,” Rhoads recalls, “but Violet passed away at five in the morning, and by 6:30 am, Chief Khatib was at my door. He told us, ‘I’ve got you. Don’t worry about work. We’ve got you taken care of.’”

The support that followed was overwhelming. While the Rhoads family was in the hospital, a crew of officers showed up to landscape their yard so they could return to beauty instead of chores. Officers surrounded them in full uniform during the service like a protective circle of support, not as coworkers, but as a family “standing watch” when Amy and her husband could not.

“They hovered over us with their love when we were at our lowest,” Rhoads says. People often see the badge before they see the person wearing it. This is the part of policing that doesn’t make headlines, but it’s what carries you through the darkest days. Rhoads adds, “Policing isn’t about being hardened, it’s about having the courage to care and still show up every day.”

For Rhoads, telling Violet’s story is an act of vulnerability, with a clear purpose. It’s a way to help the community see the person behind the uniform and understand that officers carry their hearts with them into the community they serve every day.

Recruiting is a Verb

This sense of “family” and service to others is the heartbeat of the Lawrence Kansas Police Department (LKPD), but the department’s leadership knows that in today’s world, a great culture isn’t enough if people don’t know it exists.

“Traditionally, we haven’t had to recruit as a profession,” explains Chief Rich Lockhart. “But ‘recruit’ is a verb. It’s not a poster or a table at a job fair. You have to go out and sell your program like a college coach. You have to go to where the applicants are.”

For LKPD, that means changing the narrative of what it means to be an officer. Chief Lockhart explains that they aren’t just looking for “tough guys” or people who have spent their lives dreaming of a badge. They are looking for human beings who care about other human beings and who show up with as much empathy as they do authority.

The 49th Basic Recruit Academy with training officers and supervisors: Back Row: Sgt. Trowbridge, Recruit Tristan Hubler, Recruit Travis Morgan, Recruit Michael Williams Jr, Corporal Inman Front Row: Corporal Zarnowiec, Officer Morgan, Recruit Terrel Twiss, Recruit Zackary Cushing, Lt. Rhoads

“Uniquely Lawrence”

The department is intentionally seeking a diverse range of backgrounds. Current members include former teachers, social workers, pastors, former journalists, and professional wrestlers, people whose life experiences shape how they listen, respond, and serve.

“We call ourselves ‘Uniquely Lawrence,’” says Chief Lockhart. “Our police department is as unique as our community. We want people who hold the same values our community holds: integrity, character, and trustworthiness.”

A significant focus has been placed on college athletes and students from the University of Kansas. The department recently launched an internship program to give students a “bird’s eye view” of the profession—not just patrol, but investigations, evidence, and community engagement. They are also prioritizing “homegrown” talent—people who grew up in the school districts, know the neighborhoods, and understand the specific culture of Lawrence.

“Policing in a community you grew up in means more to you,” Rhoads notes. “You don’t just protect the city; you protect people who feel like neighbors.”

Be You at Home and at Work

While many applicants are drawn to the specialized units like K9 handlers, the drone program, or the Special Victims Unit, Chief Lockhart reminisces fondly and is quick to point out, “the most fun you can have is on patrol.”

He says unlike a typical office job where you wait for clients or restock shelves, a patrol officer has immense autonomy. “You decide every night what you’re going to do,” the Chief says. “If you want to go chase warrants, you can. If you want to follow up on a case from the night before, you can. You go out and create your work.”
Lockhart says the four-day work week with ten-hour shifts offers a level of freedom and variety that few professions can match. “Every day on the street is different. You cannot make up the things we get to see and experience,” adds Rhoads, “And you don’t have to leave who you are at the door when you put the uniform on.”

High Standards

Despite the national shortage of officers, LKPD refuses to lower its standards. They recently saw a pool of over 100 applicants result in only five hires. Rhoads explains that those numbers aren’t a failure of the process; they’re a protection of a culture that once carried her through unimaginable loss.

As the Lieutenant now tasked with leading the training and recruitment team, Rhoads will not accept less than she has so gratefully received.

“We have core values we will not surpass,” Rhoads says firmly. “If someone isn’t trustworthy or lacks integrity, they can’t be a Lawrence Kansas Police Officer. We owe it to the community—and to the family we’ve built here—to only bring in the best.”

For those who DO make the cut, she says the rewards go way beyond a paycheck and she works daily to ensure those who come after her have the family she so gratefully experienced during her time of need.

As Rhoads puts it: “We are more than a uniform. We are people who show up for the Lawrence Community and are committed to being there when it matters.”