Kent Police Command Staff
Assistant Chief Jon Straus
Assistant Chief Jon Straus began his law enforcement career in 1984 at the Kent Police Department. He started his career in the Patrol Division and has held positions as an Officer, Field Training Officer, SWAT Officer, and Detective before being promoted to Sergeant in 1997. Jon has served as Sergeant for Patrol, K9, and the Detective Unit. He has served for several terms on the Kent Police Officer’s Association Executive Board and has been involved in labor management issues for many years. His current assignment is as the Support Services Assistant Chief and he is accountable for the Records and Evidence Units, Training/Hiring, Accreditation, and the City of Kent Correctional Facility (CKCF).
Jon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from WA State University. He is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police Executive Management Program. He is also a graduate of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Police Organizations Program. Assistant Chief Straus holds his Middle Management Career Level certification through the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission. Jon is an associate of the Police Executive Research Forum. He is an associate member of the WA Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). Jon is actively involved in the community as a member of the Executive Board of the Kent Food Bank and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Kent.
Assistant Chief Straus can be contacted at jstraus@kentwa.gov.
Assistant Chief Randy Bourne
Assistant Chief Randy Bourne has served with the Kent Police Department since 1980. His past assignments have included Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer (FTO), ProAct Detective, Patrol Sergeant, FTO and K9 Sergeant, Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Sergeant, Detective Lieutenant, Patrol Lieutenant, and SWAT Commander.
Randy is currently in charge of the Patrol Division and his other duties include lead contract negotiator for the Assistant Chief and Commander group of the Kent Police Officers Association.
Randy holds several instructor level certificates, as well as a Supervisory Career Level certification through the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Randy served for four years on active duty in the U.S. Army and then an additional 18 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. This time included deployments as a Captain to Panama in 1990 for Operation Just Cause and to Haiti in 1995 for Operation Uphold Democracy. He retired from the Army in 1997 with 22 years of service.
Randy volunteers with many charities and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Kent Police Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps support various groups and individuals who are in need. He is an active member of the Veteran's Of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Kent Rotary Club.
In his spare time he enjoys traveling, scuba diving, flying, and riding motorcycles with his wife Donna, and various activities with his adult children, Hope, Michael, and Jon, and two grandsons.
Assistant Chief Bourne can be contacted at rbourne@kentwa.gov.
Assistant Chief Pat Lowery
Assistant Chief Pat Lowery has served with the Kent Police Department since 1980. Past assignments have included Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Motorcycle Enforcement Officer, Collision Reconstructionist, and Hostage Negotiator. As a supervisor he has overseen operations for Patrol, Field Training Program, Canine, Traffic Enforcement and Major Collision Investigation, and agency training. He was the Administrative Representative and Team Leader for the Valley Crisis Communications Unit. In his current assignment, Pat oversees operations of the Investigations Division. Pat is the primary Public Information Officer for the police department.
In addition to his experience at the Kent Police Department, Pat spent three years at the WA State Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Seattle working as a Tactical Officer, Legal Instructor, and Assistant Academy Commander. He was also a part of the design team charged with developing the WA State Police Corp. As a Collision Reconstructionist, Pat is a Master Instructor for Collision Investigation. He is also an instructor for Emergency Management and Incident Command classes, and author of the Kent Police Department’s All Hazards Emergency Response Plan. Pat is also a member of the Seattle Metro Incident Management Team.
Pat is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, as well as the South Puget Sound Leadership Institute. He was recognized as the Kent Police Officer of the Year in 2001 and has been a featured speaker to regional and national audiences regarding his efforts to curtail illegal street racing. Pat is a member of the Rotary Club of Kent.
Away from work, Pat enjoys his time with family and friends while snowboarding, traveling, and camping. He is an avid lacrosse fan, a former lacrosse coach, and board member of the local youth lacrosse organization. He enjoys wrenching and driving muscle cars.
Assistant Chief Lowery can be contacted at plowery@kentwa.gov. Commander Steve Ohlde
Commander Steve Ohlde has been with the Kent Police Department since 1978. He spent 10 years as a Patrol Officer, during which time, he also worked in Narcotics Enforcement and was assigned to the SWAT team. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1988 and was assigned various duties for 10 years. They included assignments in Patrol, Narcotics, and the Training Unit.
In 1998, he was promoted to Commander and has been assigned mainly to the Patrol Division. Previously, he facilitated the hiring of new officers. He is currently responsible for three patrol squads, Explorers, Chaplaincy Program, and Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS).
Steve oversees the west hill (Sector 3) part of the City. It involves working with citizens and the community to solve problems and insure the neighborhood remains a safe environment.
He is a graduate from Central WA State University. In 2001, he graduated from Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.
Commander Ohlde can be contacted at sohlde@kentwa.gov.
Commander Rafael Padilla
Commander Rafael Padilla has served with the Kent Police Department since 1997. He began is law enforcement career as a Police Officer with the Honolulu Police Department in 1992. He subscribes to the servant leader philosophy and considers it his duty and honor to serve and protect people.
Rafael is currently assigned to the Patrol Division and oversees four patrol squads, the Traffic Unit, and SWAT. His previous work assignments have included Patrol Officer, Narcotics Detective, Field Training Officer, Law Enforcement Academy Instructor, Patrol Sergeant, Civil Disturbance Team Leader, SWAT, and Traffic Sergeant. He was also temporarily assigned to the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission where he served as an instructor before being appointed as the Director of the WA Police Corps Academy. As a commander, Rafael recently completed an assignment with the Special Investigations section, where he oversaw the Neighborhood Response Team (NRT), Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Community Education Unit (CEU), and the Valley Gang Unit.
Rafael is a volunteer member of the Kent Police Honor Guard and enjoys participating in several community events, including the Cornucopia Days Parade, Relay 4 Life, the WA State Law Enforcement Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony, and the National Day of Prayer. He is also a member of the Kent Meridian Kiwanis Club.
Rafael holds several instructor level certificates, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Northwest Law Enforcement Command College, and holds a Mid-Management Career Level certification through the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Away from work, he enjoys spending time with his family; participating in the sports and school activities of his two sons. Rafael also enjoys camping and traveling with family and friends.
Commander Padilla can be contacted at rpadilla@kentwa.gov.
Commander Tracey Church
Commander Tracey Church began her career in law enforcement in 1990 at the Kent Police Department. She pursued a career in law enforcement after working for three years as a child advocate in Seattle. Tracey worked for 22 years in the Patrol Division as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, and Generalist K9 Handler.
She was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 1998, supervising Patrol Officers until 2003 when she transferred to the Special Operations Unit, supervising Bicycle and Marine Officers. Tracey was promoted to Commander in May of 2010 and was assigned to the Support Services Division where she oversees the Detective Unit, Internal Affairs, and is the Kent School District liaison and the Department's Historian.
Tracey has a Bachelors Degree Cum Laude from the University of Washington Seattle and is a 2011 graduate of the Senior Management Institute of Policing. She is the proud parent to four children and volunteers extensively in their schools, attends Husky football games, and enjoys spending time with her family.
Tracey has a Bachelors Degree Cum Laude from the University of Washington Seattle and is a 2011 graduate of the Senior Management Institute of Policing. She is the proud parent to four children and volunteers extensively in their schools, attends Husky football games, and enjoys spending time with her family.
Commander Church can be contacted at tchurch@kentwa.gov.
Commander Derek Kammerzell
Commander Derek Kammerzell began his law enforcement career in 1994 at the Kent Police Department. He spent the majority of his time as an officer in the Patrol Division where he served additional duties as a field training officer (FTO) for 6 years, bomb recognition specialist, firearm instructor and weapon armorer. He also served 8 years as a SWAT operator and sniper on the KPD Emergency Response Team (ERT) and as a sniper team leader on the regional Valley Special Response Team. Derek also spent time as a detective working plain clothes/undercover street crimes and vice with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Derek was promoted to Sergeant November of 2007 where he served as a Patrol Sergeant and as the Training Sergeant.
In November of 2010, he was promoted to Commander and assigned to the Patrol Division. His current areas of responsibility include the oversight of three patrol crews, K9 units, Liquor Control Board liaison, and the firearm training cadre. Derek is responsible for police service in the east hill (Sector 4) area of Kent.
Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of WA in Seattle. He has served over 21 years as an Army Infantry Non-Commissioned and Commissioned Officer. He served two combat tours in Iraq as commander of A Co, 1/161 IN in Baghdad (2004-2005) and as the S3 Operations Plans Officer for the 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team in Ramadi (2008-2009). He has also held an Armor command in the 1-303 AR Battalion. He currently holds the rank of Major in the WA Army National Guard and is assigned as the Executive Officer of the 1-161 Infantry Combined Arms Battalion. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Captain’s Career Course, Commander and First Sergeant Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course and is currently enrolled in ILE of the Command and General Staff College.
Away from work and the military, Derek spends his time with his loving and supportive wife, Stacey, and their two wonderful children Lauren and Colt. Derek enjoys hunting, shooting, being an avid spectator at his wife and daughter’s soccer matches, and coaching on his son’s youth football team.
Commander Kammerzell can be contacted at dkammerzell@kentwa.gov.
Commander Eric Hemmen
Commander Eric Hemmen began his law enforcement career in 1994 at the Kent Police Department. He spent his first six years as an officer in the Patrol Division, the last three of which he was a Field Training Officer (FTO). Eric spent the next two years working as a detective working plain clothes/undercover street crimes and vice with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Eric also spent four years as a SWAT operator and sniper on the KPD Emergency Response Team (ERT). Eric was promoted to sergeant in July of 2002. During that time, he served as a Patrol Sergeant, Administrative Sergeant, Field Training Sergeant, and Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Sergeant.
In February of 2012, he was promoted to Commander where he served in the Patrol Division until being reassigned to the Investigations Division in January, 2013. Eric currently oversees the Intelligence Led Policing (ILP) workgroup which is purposed with bringing special resources to solve problems in the city. This workgroup achieves solutions through developing intelligence, deploying special investigations techniques, and community partnerships. Eric is responsible for the Community Education Unit (CEU), Neighborhood Response Team (NRT), and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). He is also the Emergency Management representative for the police department.
Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of WA in Seattle. He is a graduate of the Pacific Institute and the Leadership Institute of South Puget Sound.
Away from work, Eric enjoys spending time with his family. He is an avid camper and loves the outdoors.
Commander Hemmen can be contacted at ehemmen@kentwa.gov.
Commander Rob Scholl
Commander Rob Scholl has served with the Kent Police Department since 1996. He began his law enforcement career as a Police Officer with the City of Mountlake Terrace in 1990. While employed with the Mountlake Terrace Police Department Rob worked as a patrol officer, traffic motor officer and was a member of the South Snohomish County SWAT team.
Since working at the Kent Police Department Rob has been an FTO (Field Training Officer), member of CDU (Civil Disturbance Unit), one of the original members of the Kent Police Honor Guard and a detective in the crimes against persons unit. Rob spent three years as a TAC Officer/Criminal Procedure instructor with the Criminal Justice Training Commission Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
In December of 2009 Rob was promoted to Sergeant. He served as a Patrol Supervisor and Administrative Sergeant. In February of 2013 Rob was promoted to Commander and assigned to the Patrol Division. His current areas of responsibility include the oversight of three patrol crews, the Special Operations Unit (SOU), and Honor Guard program.
Prior to becoming a Police Officer Rob served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a Desert Storm veteran. He attended Shoreline Community College for a Criminal Justice Degree. He is continuing his education in police leadership to earn a Bachelors degree and Mid Level Management Career Certification.
Away from work Rob is an avid waterskier, competing on a national level, and enjoys spending time with his wife.
Commander Scholl can be contacted at rscholl@kentwa.gov.
Corrections Commander Diane McCuistion
Corrections Commander Diane McCuistion has been with the Kent Police Department since January 2000 serving as a Corrections Officer and Corrections Sergeant. In 2012 she was promoted to the position of Corrections Commander. Diane is responsible for the daily functions and activities of the corrections facility, as well as overseeing the jail alternatives to incarceration and volunteer programs.
Diane currently serves as an advisor to Green River Community College Law and Justice program and is on the WA Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) Corrections Committee and has worked on projects that include the development of the WASPC corrections accreditation standards.
Diane is a graduate of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, in Leadership of Police Organizations, as well as the Leadership Institute of South Puget Sound. She holds a First Level Supervisor certification with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and is in the process of completing her Middle Management Career Level certification. She is certified in Critical Incident Stress Management: Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support.
Diane is involved with many volunteer organizations; a member of the WA State Critical Incident Stress Management Team, the Kent Police Department Peer Support Team and the Kent Police Foundation, all of which are non-profit organizations that help support those in need. She also is very supportive in attendance of community fundraisers and improvement projects.
Away from work Diane enjoys spending time with her family and participating in activities with her three adult children. She enjoys hiking, scuba diving, snow skiing, and traveling with family and friends. Recently Diane successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro, in Africa with her eldest son
Diane McCuistion can be contacted at dmccuistion@kentwa.gov.
Support Services Manager Sheila Knapp
Manager Sheila Knapp has been with the Kent Police Department since 1985. She currently supervises civilian employees in the Records and Evidence Units, as well as a Research and Development Analyst, and a Financial Analyst. Sheila processes public disclosure requests for the police department as well as being the liaison between the police department and the Information Technology department. Prior to her current position she worked as a Corrections Officer and Corrections Sergeant with the City of Kent Correctional Facility for 21 years. She also worked as a TAC Officer with the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission for the Corrections Academies. She has participated as an instructor for Corrections based courses as well as the First Level Supervision course sponsored by the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Sheila holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Puget Sound, has completed the Northwestern University sponsored School of Police Staff and Command, is a graduate of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Police Organizations Program and the Leadership Institute of South Puget Sound. She holds a Middle Management Career Level certification with the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
She has participated as a mentor with both the City of Kent, as well as the Kent School District and believes that fostering relationships such as these help in the improvement of self and the community. In her spare time she enjoys golf and traveling in her motorhome with her partner Christeen and their beagle SammyLu. She also cheers on her local sports teams, the Seahawks and Huskies. Her motto is work hard, play hard, and have fun.
Sheila Knapp can be contacted at sknapp@kentwa.gov.
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