Press Releases

If you haven’t been by the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center in a while, you may not realize that there is significant construction occurring near the entrance to the zoo. “Tomorrow is typically the busiest day of the year for the zoo,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley, “the weather forecast looks ideal for the event.”
Boo at the Zoo is the community’s longest running Halloween tradition. When the weather is right, the event can see over 7,000 participants in a single day. This year’s event will feature more than 32 outside vendors participating to make the event successful for the thousands of children that attend.
New this year include participants like Papa Johns Pizza and a “Fun House.” (There is an additional fee of $2.00 per person for entry into the Fun House.)
With the nice weather, zoo officials are expecting a large crowd and want to offer parking advice for those planning to attend. “A new parking lot has been installed just South of the Helen Hocker Theatre,” said Wiley. “Also, the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department has been very supportive during our construction work. Boo at the Zoo attendees can park at the Blaisdell Pool Parking Lot and walk through Animal Land to gain access to the Zoo.”

Sumatran tigers are a critically endangered species. It’s estimated that there are only as many as 750 Sumatran tigers left in the world, with somewhere between 400 to 500 Sumatran tigers left in the wild. 242 Sumatran tigers are being managed in zoo conservation programs across the world. Of the 74 in North American Zoos, the Topeka Zoo’s Jingga, has given birth to seven of them. “It’s a little bizarre to realize that for this critically endangered species, over 10% of the North American population has been born or lived at our zoo,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley.

The Sumatran Tiger program at the Topeka Zoo is the Zoo’s most successful conservation program. It has a strong on-site education program, an active reproductive program contributing to managed healthy genetic diversity and an in-situ component. “It’s our in-situ component, the armed ranger that our community funds, that is on the ground in Sumatra protecting and saving tigers that we are most proud of,” said Wiley. “That is what makes this so real.”

The Sumatran tiger conservation program from the Topeka Zoo help the Wildlife Conservation Society to employ a ranger named Bajar Johan in Sumatra for a boots on the ground effort to protect Sumatran tigers. Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant is essential to helping provide funds to the Sumatran tiger conservation program by brewing a beer called Tiger Bite IPA. For every draw they sell, they donate a quarter to the Topeka Zoo’s Conservation Fund. That Fund transfers those proceeds to the Tiger Species Survival Plan operated through the Minnesota Zoo. The Tiger SSP transfers the funding to the New York based Wildlife Conservation Society who has a field office on the island of Sumatra. WCS uses the funds generated by beer drinkers in Topeka to employ Badar, which leads to Topekan beer drinkers supporting and funding the active ground conservation efforts for an endangered species half a world away. “Who knew conservation work could be as satisfying as simply ordering the right beer at a local Topeka establishment,” said Wiley.

Since the inception of this unique partnership, Blind Tiger Brewery has been much more
involved than just a quarter a draw. In the bar area of the local brewery you can find a live
video feed from the tiger habitat at the Topeka Zoo. Coasters at the restaurant speak to the
conservation initiative. Even the bones from the bison that are harvested to make bison burgers
find their way to the Topeka Zoo as enrichment for the Zoo’s tigers.

A year ago, four extremely rare Sumatran tiger cubs were born at the Topeka Zoo. It was fitting
that one of those cubs be named by a Blind Tiger patron. The name that was chosen was Kansa
Raja, loosely translated to be Kansas King. Beginning this Friday, October 11, Blind Tiger
Brewery joins the Zoo in celebrating the four cubs first birthday. Starting Friday October 11th
through October 15 (the true birthday for the cubs) Blind Tiger Brewery will donate to the Zoo’s
Conservation Fund $1 for each of the following items that is ordered:

 Tiger Bite IPA
 Tiger Paws Appetizer
 Tiger Wings Appetizer
 Tiger-Que Combo Platter

“When else do you get the chance to eat, drink and enjoy for such a great cause? Drink a beer
and save a tiger,” said Wiley.

The Zoo’s celebration of the cub’s birthday will be this Saturday, October 12 and will run from
10:00 to 2:30 with the following activities:

 10:00 Special tiger cub enrichment
 10:00 – 12:00 – Tiger Keeper available to talk with guests and Docent Education Station
 2:00 – 2:30 – Tiger Building Behind the Scenes Tours

All zoo activities are included with zoo admission.

The City of Topeka has appointed Braxton Copley as assistant city manager. Copley, who most-recently served as the director of public works, brings more than 19 years of service to the city.

Copley’s leadership in the Public Works Department has been instrumental in advancing the city’s infrastructure. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas. He also has numerous nationally recognized technical certifications.

“Braxton has done an incredible job as the director of public works, and we are confident he will excel in his new role as assistant city manager,” said Topeka City Manager Dr. Robert Perez.

In his new role, Copley will oversee infrastructure and development departments. He will also serve as interim public works director while the city searches for his replacement. The city still plans to hire a deputy city manager.

The City of Topeka looks forward to Copley’s continued contributions in his new position.

Deputy Chief Bryan Wheeles has been named the Interim Police Chief for the City of Topeka. Deputy Chief Wheeles will take over for Chief Cochran when he retires on January 1st. Wheeles will start his duties as Interim Chief on January 2nd.
“Deputy Chief Wheeles is the best candidate to be the Interim Police Chief for the City of Topeka,” said City Manager Brent Trout. “Chief Cochran has done a wonderful job with the Topeka Police Department and will be leaving it in capable hands. Bryan Wheeles has the experience in all aspects of police work with strong leadership abilities and a dedication to the community as a whole.”
Bryan Wheeles has worked with the Topeka Police Department for twenty-six years, starting his service on June 13th, 1994. Wheeles has worked in several capacities at the Topeka Police Department including; patrol, narcotics, criminal investigation, criminal intelligence and administration. Most recently Wheeles has been serving as the Deputy Chief of Police.
“I am very excited to continue my career in public service as the interim Chief of Police. I am truly honored to lead the brave men and women of the Topeka Police Department. We serve a great community and I look forward to continued collaboration in 2021,” said Deputy Chief Wheeles.
Wheeles graduated from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 1994. He has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Topeka Board of Directors since 2015 and is currently serving as the Vice President. Wheeles’s salary as Interim Police Chief will be $131,192.
City Manager Trout will announce when he will begin the search for the next permanent Police Chief at a later date. Both internal and external candidates will be considered for the position.

Case # 18-105077 & # 18-105082

On October 18, 2018 just before 5:00 a.m. the suspect pictured above reportedly broke into the Villa West Apartment Clubhouse located at 2744 SW Villa West Dr. He was seen getting into a white 4 door car. This suspect may also be responsible for a burglary on the same morning at 5:43 a.m. at the Southbrook Apartments located at 5201 SW 34th St.

If you have any information on this suspect, please email Sgt. Dan Wilson at dwilson@topeka.org or call him at (785) 368-2583.

You can also call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007 to report anonymously. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.

When staff from Mohan Construction and the Topeka Zoo traveled to Wichita earlier this year to receive a construction award, they knew in advance that they would be receiving two awards. The third one was a complete surprise.

The awards were presented by the Associated General Contractors of Kansas at the Kan-Struct convention on February 1, 2019, in Wichita. The first two awards included the AGC of Kansas Award of Excellence for new construction between $2 and $6 million and the Kan-Struct Collaboration Award of Excellence for Public Buildings.

“The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center is proud of all the work that was done by Mohan Construction for the Camp Cowabunga project,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. “Camp Cowabunga has been a tremendous asset to the zoo. It has been wonderful to see guests have a safari experience in the heart of Topeka.

The awards ceremony concluded with the presentation of the AGC of Kansas Judges Choice awards. The Judges Choice awards are selected from all construction and budget categories combined. Camp Cowabunga won the AGC of Kansas Judges Choice Runner Up award with only one project throughout the entire state that had a budget of $75.4 million winning a higher award.
“We are honored that Camp Cowabunga won three awards,” said Steve Mohan, President of Mohan Construction. “There were many excellent projects submitted from across the state, so we are proud to be recognized by the construction industry with these awards. It was extra special to be selected for the overall Judges Choice Runner Up Award. When we accepted that award, I wanted to recognize who wasn’t in attendance. Gary Clarke was the inspiration for this project. He told me he was looking forward to being at the award presentation with us, but unfortunately, he passed away recently and is no longer with us. I wanted to dedicate this award to him.”

“I’m glad I had the opportunity to work with Gary Clarke. His passion and sense of humor made it a great experience. The Zoo staff were fantastic. Their dedication and commitment to Camp Cowabunga and the Topeka Zoo helped make this project a success,” said Steve Mohan.

“These awards are the result of the teamwork and cooperation of the City of Topeka, The Topeka Zoo, GLMV Architecture, Studio Tectonic and the many subcontractors and suppliers on this project. This is a great addition for the Topeka Zoo and the City of Topeka, and Mohan Construction is proud to be part of it,” said Steve Mohan.

Camp Cowabunga broke ground on July 6th, 2017 and was completed and opened to the public on August, 31st 2018. Camp Cowabunga was the largest project in the Topeka Zoo’s history and creates the atmosphere of being on a safari in Africa, with the exhibit honoring Gary K. Clarke’s safari experiences in Africa as a tour guide. Camp Cowabunga houses several animals including African lions, African painted dogs, Red Patas monkeys, guinea fowl and ostriches. Camp Cowabunga also features interactive learning experiences that are fun and education for guests. Opening weekend of Camp Cowabunga saw 9,857 guests who enjoyed their first experience of the Topeka Zoo’s master plan.

For additional information, contact Brendan Wiley at bwiley@topeka.org or 785-506-3797.

The City of Topeka is excited to announce an innovative and unique series of Public Health and Safety Committee meetings that actively explores changing the culture of property maintenance. Several public meetings will take place throughout the community in September giving Topekans a chance to provide solutions to issues in Property Maintenance.

The Public Health and Safety Committee is seeking public input on including solutions for substandard properties, vacant properties, overgrowth, trash and overall changing the culture of property maintenance in Topeka.  The focus of the meetings will be what Property Maintenance or citywide initiatives the Public Health and Safety Committee could explore to have our city safer and better, where citizens of all neighborhoods and incomes are confident and inspired to maintain structures and properties.

“I’m excited about the upcoming meetings and working with neighbors to re-envision property maintenance.  Folks want to be proud of the communities they live in and all neighborhoods are helped when we work together to maintain our homes and properties,” said Christina Valdivia-Alcala, Councilwoman for District 2.

“We have been working on reimagining the City of Topeka Property Maintenance procedures for a long time to make them more community friendly while also addressing issues that many people experience with substandard housing, vacant properties and blight,” said Karen Hiller, Councilwoman for District 1. “After a year of compiling experiences and visiting with staff we want to make sure the community has an opportunity to help us make Topeka a stronger and more vibrant community by bringing to us ideas they have for solutions and community initiatives in Property Maintenance.”

The Public Health and Safety Committee encourages the public to watch the video  Beyond Clipboards: A Strategic Approach to Code Enforcement – May 2019  during the second week of September via this link https://youtu.be/cBuHijfWeSk make note of at least one idea from the video, and bring that and their own ideas to one of the public input sessions. The video can be viewed anywhere free internet access is available. Those who don’t have internet access and would like to watch the video can do so at one of two sessions on September 13^th at the Holliday Building at 620 Madison Street. The first session will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m. The second session will be on the 15^th of September from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

During the last half of September, the COT Public Health & Safety Committee will hold city-wide meetings to share the goals and seek guidance for a new and improved property maintenance system. The meetings on September 22^nd and 23^rd at the Holliday Building will be televised and streamed live on Facebook.

The city’s engagement with neighborhoods is vital to finish the construction of an inspirational template for the future of ALL neighborhoods. If you are someone that cares about your neighborhood, believes in protecting property values and wants to see more efficient, strategic and community driven partnerships, then join us!

You can find more information on the meetings on the City of Topeka website: https://www.topeka.org/citycouncil/changing-our-culture-of-property-maintenance/

Public Meeting Times and Locations:

• September 13^th from 6-8 p.m. at Hillcrest, 1800 SE 21^st Street
• September 16^th from 6-8 p.m. at Central Park Community Center, 1534 SW Clay St.
• September 20^th from 6-8 p.m. at Crestview, 4801 SW Shunga Drive
• September 22^nd from 9-11 a.m. at the Holliday Building, 620 Madison St.
• September 22^nd from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Garfield Community Center, 1600 NE Quincy St.
• September 23^rd from 6-8 p.m. at the Holliday Building, 620 Madison St.
• September 30^th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Lundgren, 1020 NE Forest

Both meetings on September 22^nd and 23^rd at the Holliday Building will also have a virtual option and will be streamed live on Facebook and City4. Please contact etoyne@topeka.org for the zoom link.

The City of Topeka announced Wednesday that Chris Vallejo will serve as the city’s next police chief for the Topeka Police Department.

After a nationwide search and an extensive interview process that included public input sessions, community panel interviews, and a public meet and greet, Topeka City Manager Dr. Robert Perez has selected Chris Vallejo to lead the Topeka Police Department.

“After receiving valuable input from our community and stakeholders, I am confident that Chris Vallejo will lead the Topeka Police Department in a positive direction,” said Dr. Robert Perez. “His proven achievements, including innovative recruitment strategies and impactful community-based initiatives, will elevate the department and strengthen the bond between our officers and the people they serve.”

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.

“I am truly honored and excited to serve as your next chief of police.” said Chris Vallejo. “This is the highest privilege, and I am deeply humbled by the trust you have placed in me. In the initial weeks, I look forward to getting to know the dedicated men and women in the Topeka Police Department and building meaningful connections with this incredible community that my family and I are eager to join. Together, we will work to reduce crime, overcome challenges, and create a safer and stronger future for everyone in Topeka.”

Vallejo is expected to start the week of January 20, 2025.

The City Manager’s office has made it a strategic goal to work in many aspects throughout the City to improve communication, increase effective data-driven decision making, and increase sustainability. As a part of the strategic plan, a direct goal is to conduct a survey every other year to receive feedback from the Citizens of Topeka in regards to their satisfaction levels of City services.
“The citizen satisfaction survey is important to get feedback on what Topekan’s feel about our community, both good and bad,” said City Manager Brent Trout. “The feedback allows the city to identify our strengths and find out what aspects of our city that citizens want us to improve on.”
In November of 2018, the City of Topeka contracted with the ETC Institute to administer a citizen’s satisfaction survey to assess the opinions and priorities of Topeka residents. To ensure the community was represented as a whole, a total of 3,000 surveys were mailed out to a random sample of households covering all parts of the city. To get statistically accurate data, ETC set a goal to receive 400 completed surveys. The goal was exceeded with 438 household responses, giving a 4.7% margin of error or a 95% level of confidence rate.
The data collected should be considered along with other factors such as input from City officials and City staff when making budget and policy decisions. The city has also concluded from this survey that there are areas in which the City of Topeka needs to do a better job telling their story and educating the general public.
According to the survey report, the Citizens top three priorities, in order, are:
1. Maintenance of City Streets
2. Flow of Traffic & Congestion Management
3. Enforcement of City codes & ordinances
The survey will be a great resource not only for staff but for other individuals in the community as well. The feedback we received will be a consistent tool we utilize to identify opportunities to improve on, measure trends over time and compare Topeka’s performance with other communities.
As listed on the City of Topeka webpage our mission is to provide exceptional, cost-effective services in partnership with the community, which add value and enhance the quality of life for all. We believe that conducting the survey and utilizing the feedback keeps our promise of this mission as well as the goal to build citizen satisfaction, confidence and trust in service delivery and operations management. The full survey findings can be found on the city website at: https://www.topeka.org/citymanager/citizen-satisfaction/ 
In an effort to reach out to citizens, City Manager Brent Trout is starting a mobile office. The mobile office will give citizens a chance to interact with the City Manager and share their concerns outside of city hall. The mobile office will take place once a quarter. Citizens can set up a fifteen minutes meeting by calling the City Manager’s office. Open hour timeslots will also be available for anyone wanting to drop in. The first mobile office will take place on April 15th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Juli’s Coffee and Bistro on 110 SE 8th Ave.

The City of Topeka and PC’s for People, an area technology refurbishing company, are partnering together to host a free digital e-cycle event. The event will take place on Saturday, April 16, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Stormont Vail Events Center, in Parking Lot #1.

During the event, area residents will have the opportunity to dispose of unused household electronic devices, while making a difference in the community.

Devices that are being accepted include desktop computers, laptops, monitors, and tablets. The devices can be in working or non-working condition. After collection, PC’s for People will reset and repair the devices. They will then be provided to individuals in Topeka who are in need of digital devices.

“This is event is a terrific opportunity to help connect our low to moderate income neighbors, and work towards the City’s digital equity goals,” said Monique Glaude’, Director of Community Engagement and Ombudsman.

This event is a part of the City’s new digital equity program, TSC – Get Digital. TSC – Get Digital is a coalition made up of community members and stakeholders who want to help close the digital divide in Topeka.

“Recycling, refurbishing and getting quality unused computers into the homes of our lower income neighborhoods, is clearly one of the most effective ways of increasing internet adoption and bridging the digital divide,” said Lazone Grays, TSC – Get Digital Coalition Member. “This event highlights the continued commitment by the TSC – Get Digital Coalition to our Topeka community, and I look forward to even greater accomplishments ahead.”

“TSC – Get Digital is collecting as many laptops and desktops as possible in order for these to be refurbished and provided to qualifying members of our community,” said Scott Gowan, TSC – Get Digital Coalition Member. “Digital Equity is a necessary tool for success in learning, socializing, and seeking support in today’s digital world.  Our neighbors who do not have these resources need your support to help them bridge that digital divide.”

The TSC – Get Digital Coalition was made possible through a $250,000 grant the City received from the Kansas Health Foundation.

Other electronic items can be disposed of at the Shawnee County Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 131 NE 46^th St. There is no charge for disposal with the exception of CRT TVs and monitors. For additional information, please contact the County at 785-286-4381.