The City of Topeka’s Office of Inclusive Communities is proud to announce a partnership with the East Topeka Senior Center to provide free transportation for seniors attending this year’s National Night Out event on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Agriculture Hall, 1 Expocentre Drive.

Thanks to this partnership, any senior living in the City of Topeka who needs a ride to the event can reserve a spot for free transportation. Pickups will begin at 10:00 a.m. to ensure all participants arrive before the event starts. Return rides home will be provided after the event ends at 5:00 p.m. Rides are available on a first come, first serve basis until they meet capacity.
Reservations are required and must be made by Thursday, August 7, 2025. To reserve a ride, please call 785-251-6988.

“We want to ensure every resident has the opportunity to participate in this important community event,” said Monique Glaudé, Director of the Office of Inclusive Communities. “Thanks to the East Topeka Senior Center, we are helping our seniors stay connected, engaged, and included.”

For more information about National Night Out, email oic@topeka.org.

The City of Topeka has announced the four finalists for the Topeka police chief position.

(Simon Happer withdrew his application on 11/04/24) W. Simon Happer currently serves as the deputy police chief for the Overland Park Police Department in Overland Park, Kansas. Lieutenant Colonel Happer has 34 years of law enforcement experience and 19 years of senior police leadership including serving as the interim police chief for the Overland Park Police Department. Happer received his Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas. Happer has worked with his command staff to develop new strategies to address staffing issues including several proposals which focus on retention of current employees, recruitment of candidates from colleges, the military and high schools, as well as our commitment to the 30 by 30 campaign. Happer says he hopes to reduce crime rates, increase traffic safety and improve morale, while building trust with a diverse population hungry for transparency and collaboration.

Russ Klumpp currently serves as a Major for the Topeka Police Department. Klumpp has 19 years of leadership and executive experience. He works in the Criminal Investigations and Field Operation units. Klumpp was appointed by Governor Laura Kelly as a member of the Kansas 988 committee to help reduce suicide rates. He received his Ph.D. in social psychology from Walden University. Klumpp says he plans to emphasize strong community relationships, a commitment to meaningful and open communication, police department accountability, improved care and procedural integrity for employees, advancements in the provision of police services, and increasing officer morale.

(Jose Salcido withdrew his application on 10/31/24) Jose Salcido has more than 27 years of law enforcement experience, most recently serving as the Director of Campus Security at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. Salcido holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the United States Air Force Air Academy and has a human resources certification. Salcido served in the United States Air Force for 25 years before retiring as a Major. During his time with the Wichita Police Department (WPD), he led a department of investigators overseeing all criminal investigations and helped to develop various crime prevention strategies in partnership with the community.

Chris Vallejo has 30 years of experience in law enforcement, having served in various roles during his tenure with the Austin Texas Police Department (APD). Vallejo holds a Master of Criminal Justice from Texas State University. During his time as Commander in Training at the APD, Vallejo helped to develop inclusive and diverse training programs and implemented recruitment strategies that resulted in the most diverse cadet class in APD history. He also pioneered the creation of a Chief Data Officer position that aimed to integrate community-based initiatives to foster to trust and collaboration between the APD, elected officials and the community. Vallejo currently serves as a National Policing Institute Executive Fellow, regularly collaborating with Police Chiefs nationwide and advising on strategies to
address evolving challenges in U.S. law enforcement.

To give residents an opportunity to meet the finalists, the city will host a public meet and greet on Wednesday, November 6, at Hotel Topeka, located at 1717 SW Topeka Blvd. The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will provide community members the chance to interact with the candidates and ask questions.

Following the public event, there will be a special meeting of the Governing Body at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, to discuss the police chief candidates, with the goal of selecting the next leader of the Topeka Police Department. They will meet in executive session

With severe storms forecasted to impact the Topeka area on Wednesday, the City of Topeka is prepared to respond to potential storm damage and is mobilizing resources to assist with storm debris clean-up.

To report downed city-owned trees, blocked streets or sidewalks from tree debris, or traffic light issues, residents are encouraged to contact the City of Topeka Call Center at 785-368-3111 or report through the SeeClickFix app or webpage. Crews will prioritize moving debris to the side of the road to reopen traffic access as swiftly as possible.

The City of Topeka will focus on clearing city-owned trees and ensuring roadways remain accessible. Should severe storm damage affect large portions of the city, the City Manager will determine if the city will initiate a city-wide storm damage pickup. If city-wide pickup is not implemented, property owners are responsible for removing and disposing of their own tree limbs and other debris. Stay tuned for further updates as the City of Topeka continues to monitor the storm. Please follow the City of Topeka on social media or visit the city’s website for the latest information.

The City of Topeka has officially closed the application process for the position of police chief. A total of 18 applicants applied for the role. The recruiting firm SGR will now begin the process of narrowing the pool down to four or five finalists.

To give residents an opportunity to meet the finalists, the city will host a public meet and greet on Wednesday, November 6, at the Emerald Ballroom in Hotel Topeka, located at 1717 SW Topeka Blvd.
The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will provide community members the chance to interact with the candidates and ask questions.

“We are excited to meet with the finalists and engage with the community as we select our next police
chief,” said City Manager Dr. Robert Perez. “It’s important that the candidates reflect our values and will work towards the goals outlined in our public input sessions. We invite all members of the community to participate and share their thoughts during this important time.”

Following the public event, there will be a special meeting of the Governing Body at 6 p.m. on Thursday,
November 7, to discuss the police chief candidates, with the goal of selecting the next leader of the Topeka Police Department. They will meet in executive session.

The city will continue to provide updates on the search as the process moves forward.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the City of Topeka will receive a Raise Grant of $25 million to serve disadvantaged census tracts.

The project will cover 50 miles to construct new or improved sidewalks that will transform the River Road and other locations. The City of Topeka’s project is just one of 148 that were selected by the Biden-Harris Administration for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. This project will help ensure pedestrians will have safe and equitable access to daily destinations and local bus routes.

“This grant in the amount of $25 Million will allow us to do some transformative projects for the City of Topeka.” said Public Works Director Braxton Copley.

Key Transformative Projects:

• NE River Rd: NE Crane to NE Emmett Shared-Use Path, which will provide safe access between the Oakland neighborhood and Downtown Topeka.
• SE California Ave: 10^th St to 10^th Ave, which will provide a much safer pedestrian connection between NE Topeka to SE Topeka, as well as access to Topeka Cemetery and transit stops.
• Areas of North Topeka, such as NE Norris St (near Topeka Rescue Mission Distribution Center, ICI Manufacturing, and Topeka North Outreach Food Bank).
• The Central Highland Park neighborhood from SE Adams St to SE California Ave, and from SE 21^st St to SE 29^th

To learn more about the Department of Transportation’s announcement, please visit:

RAISE 2024 Fact Sheets (transportation.gov)

The City of Topeka announced today it’s successful bid for funding as part of the city’s participation in the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) program, through the National League of Cities (NLC). The City of Topeka recently joined the CIE program, making commitments to anchor procurement as well as Hispanic and Latino businesses.

The city was awarded $30,000 from the NLC, with $15,000 to go towards each commitment. The first commitment is to encourage minority business owners to explore opportunities to contract with anchors, or large institutions like the city, state agencies, hospitals, and universities. The second is to encourage members of the Hispanic and Latin American community to explore entrepreneurship opportunities in Topeka.

The goal of the CIE program is to encourage cities to create the right policies, programs and practices that drive inclusive, entrepreneurship-led economic growth in their respective communities. By making these two public commitments, the City of Topeka is creating a shared vision for local stakeholders to rally around, positioning itself as an active leader in the innovation economy in Topeka, and highlighting the opportunity for partners to connect with us to help everyone reach a shared goal.

The CIE program is a network of over 250 municipalities across the country, which gives city staff access to hands-on assistance from NLC and program experts, peer learning opportunities, recognition of our work and financial support to implement new programs.

As part of the commitment to encourage anchor procurement amongst minority business owners, the city is planning to partner with community organizations which offer educational resources to small and diverse business owners and entrepreneurs about how to do business with the city. In order to encourage more Hispanic community members to explore entrepreneurship opportunities, the city will work towards reducing barriers and promoting opportunities to create a more vibrant and diverse business community in Topeka.

To learn more about the CIE program, visit www.nlc.org/initiative/city-inclusive-entrepreneurship/.

Topeka and Shawnee County’s homeless population has increased by 125 people since
2023, according to numbers released Friday from the City of Topeka’s annual Point in Time Homeless
Count.

The count took place on January 25, 2024. The one-day event provides a snapshot of the individuals in
the community who are experiencing homelessness, as defined by the United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). More than 40 people helped with this year’s count.
The Topeka and Shawnee County Continuum of Care (CoC) held off on releasing their annual Point in
Time data in order to collaborate with other CoC’s across the state. Statewide collaboration will not only
give them better data, but allows for more funding opportunities. However, given the recent inquires,
the Topeka/ Shawnee County CoC is releasing their local data ahead of the statewide release.

“After the Continuum of Care communities submits their Point-in-Time results, HUD reviews the data
and then gives the CoCs a thumbs up when they approve the reports,” said Christy McMurphy,
Executive Director for the Kansas State Homeless Coalition. “For the first time, the Kansas Continuum of
Care leads decided to compile a statewide Point-In-Time report, to be released after all Kansas’ CoC data
has been approved by HUD. The statewide report will list each Kansas CoC’s results as well as a
statewide compilation.”

According to the count, 537 people and 442 households are experiencing homelessness in Topeka and
Shawnee County. 62% of those who are homeless are male, while 37% are female. 203 people are
unsheltered, meaning they are not living in an emergency shelter or in transitional housing.

“In light of the national trend indicating a rise in homelessness, the increase comes as no surprise to us,”
said Carrie Higgins, Housing Services Division Director. “We are fortunate to have great partners that
collaborate with us and we used the PIT count as another touch point to connect individuals to
services.”

Below is a chart that breaks down the numbers from the previous four counts. For a more detailed look
at the 2024 number, visit:
https://citymanager.s3.amazonaws.com/City+of+Topeka+Point+in+Time+Homeless+Count+2024.pdf

To receive funding for programs, HUD requires communities complete a count each year. The count
ensures the city can obtain the appropriate level of funding to be able to provide needed services to
those experiencing homelessness and those at risk for homelessness.

The City of Topeka is pleased to announce the release of the community input gathered during the recent public sessions and open survey as part of the recruitment process for the next Topeka police chief. 

To ensure the selection of a police chief who meets the expectations and needs of the community, the city provided multiple avenues for public participation. From July 22, 2024, through August 3, 2024, a community survey was made available in both English and Spanish, collecting a total of 260 responses. In addition to the survey, three public input sessions were hosted in various parts of the community, allowing residents to share their thoughts and priorities directly. 

“The community emphasized the need for a police chief who values communication, transparency, and community engagement, with a focus on reducing crime, improving public safety, and addressing mental health and homelessness,” said City Manager Dr. Robert Perez. “We will use this feedback from community members to make sure we find the best candidate for this community.” 

This data will help craft the job posting to help attract the best candidates for this position. Please stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks regarding the interview process with candidates. 

You can view the police chief input report here: https://bit.ly/policechiefpublicinputreport   

Since July 2024, Topeka and Shawnee County’s homeless population has decreased by 12 individuals according to the City of Topeka’s January Point in Time Homeless Count released on March 18.

The count took place on January 22, 2025. The one-day event provides a snapshot of the individuals in the community who are experiencing homelessness, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). More than 40 people helped with this January’s count.

According to the count, 534 people and 399 households are experiencing homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County. Of the 534 individuals, 60% of those are male, 39% are female, .5% identify as transgender, and 151 are unsheltered, or not living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.

“The point-in-time count provides a valuable opportunity to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with essential services and resources in the community,” said Carrie Higgins, Housing Services Division Director. “We are grateful to all the volunteers and partner agencies who contributed to the count and continue to support efforts to improve our community.”
Below is a chart that breaks down the numbers from the previous four counts. For a detailed look at the Jan. 2025
numbers, Click Here.

To receive funding for programs, HUD requires communities complete a count each year. The count ensures the
city can obtain the appropriate level of funding to be able to provide needed services to those experiencing
homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.

Point in Time Count Jan. 2025

Since January 2024, Topeka and Shawnee County’s homeless population has increased by nine individuals according to the City of Topeka’s July Point in Time Homeless Count released Thursday, August 1.

The count took place on July 17, 2024. The one-day event provides a snapshot of the individuals in the community who are experiencing homelessness, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). More than 40 people helped with this July’s count.

According to the count, of 546 people and 433 households are experiencing homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County. Of the 546 individuals 59% of those are male, while 40% are female, and 216 are unsheltered, or not living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.

“With the rising numbers of those experiencing homelessness nationwide, we believe it’s crucial to collect data more regularly,” said Carrie Higgins, housing services division director. “Given the warmer weather and anticipated increase, we are encouraged to see only a modest rise since January. The count also provides a valuable opportunity to connect individuals experiencing homelessness to services and resources in the community.”

Below is a chart that breaks down the numbers from the previous four counts. For a more detailed look at the July 2024 numbers, visit: Summer PIT flyer.pdf (Summer+PIT+flyer.pdf (citymanager.s3.amazonaws.com)

To receive funding for programs, HUD requires communities complete a count each year. The count ensures the city can obtain the appropriate level of funding to be able to provide needed services to those experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.