Davenport, Iowa Police Chief Frank Donchez accepted a position as Chief of Police in Overland Park, Kansas.
“Chief Donchez did excellent work for the citizens of Davenport,” City Administrator Craig Malin said. “That he was recruited to a larger jurisdiction is not surprising.”
The population of Overland Park is more than 178,000 according to the Census Bureau. The Overland Park Police Department has 250 sworn officers; Davenport’s force has 163 sworn officers.
Donchez was credited for leading Davenport Police through a 49% reduction in the city’s crime rate in the six years he served as chief.
Donchez assumed leadership of the Davenport Police Department in 2008. He has also, at times, served as acting city administrator. His career in police work began in 1981 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He earned a law degree and became a licensed attorney in 2001, and he was in private practice until 2007. Before moving to Davenport, Donchez was a consultant for the Easton, Pennsylvania Police Department in 2006 and 2007.
Donchez also attended the FBI National Academy, the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, the Drug Enforcement Administration Drug Unit Commander’s Academy, and United States Secret Service Dignity Protection training.
Donchez replaced John Douglass, who served as Overland Park’s Police Chief for 18 years prior to retiring in April 2014, according to a statement from the Overland Park Police Department. Donchez will be the fifth police chief in the 54-year history of Overland Park.
Davenport had “multiple internal candidates who I expect to be highly competitive in a national search for his replacement,” Malin said.
Donchez’s first day as Overland Park Police Chief was set for Monday, October 20, 2014.
