Bill Cochran has been named as the Chief of Staff for City Manager Brent Trout. The Chief of Staff is a new position who will work as an assistant to the City Manager and perform a variety of duties to coordinate the administrative activities of the City Manager while also assisting with strategic focus and operations efficiencies to ensure optimal use of resources. Cochran will start his duties as Chief of Staff on February 22nd.
“Today I am excited to announce that Bill Cochran has accepted my offer to return to the City of Topeka in a new role as my Chief of Staff. Bill Cochran is someone that we all know as a dedicated public servant to the City of Topeka with 34 years of service in the Police Department,” said City Manager Brent Trout. “Bill is a well-qualified person to fulfill this newly created position in our government structure. In addition to his education and experience, Bill Cochran has strong community ties that will help facilitate the duties of his new role.”
Bill Cochran worked for the Topeka Police Department for 34 years including 3 years as Chief of Police. Cochran has worked in several capacities at the Topeka Police Department including homicide, traffic, patrol, field operations, and criminal investigations.
“I am very excited to continue my career in public service as the Chief of Staff to City Manager Trout. I am looking forward to starting this new phase of my career and continuing to serve the citizens of Topeka in my new role,” said Cochran.
Cochran has also served in the Army National Guard from February 1985 until he retired as a First Lieutenant in July of 2005. He was deployed for thirteen months in Iraq from January 2004 to February of 2005. Cochran received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Washburn University in 1987 and his Masters of Business Administration from Friends University in 2010. Cochran is also a graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Police Staff and Command School. Cochran’s salary as Chief of Staff will be $125,000.