Police Department

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Since 1872, the Newton Police Department has served the citizens of Newton. Today, the Newton Police Department consists of 40 full-time commissioned officers, five civilian employees and part-time crossing guards. We provide services to our community of about 19,000 people within the 11 square miles of Newton.

Our Mission

Our mission is to work in partnership with the community to provide prompt, professional police services that place an emphasis on enhancing the quality of life, while maintaining respect for individual rights and human dignity, building confidence and respect between the Citizens of Newton and their Police Department.

We're Hiring

The officers of the Newton Police Department are forward-thinking, trustworthy, and dedicated to serving our community with integrity and respect. When you join us, you will use your unique skills and character to do important and meaningful work critical to the success of our organization and our community.

We provide competitive salary, outstanding benefits, $1,000 hiring bonus, and up to $2,000 reimbursement of moving expenses. We would love to have you join us.

Apply Today

As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.

I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will maintain courageous calm in the face or danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed both in my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.

I know that I alone an responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence.

I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession: Law Enforcement.

In February 1872, Newton was incorporated as a Third Class city. William Brooks, a stage coach driver, was appointed the first City Marshal of Newton.  He resigned in June 1872 after being shot.

Newton's early days were filled with violence and bloodshed. Newton was described as "the toughest, loudest and most dangerous spot in the West." Gradually, Newton settled down and began to develop into a peaceful and prosperous community.  The city was protected by numerous City Marshals until 1928 when J.W. Brown was appointed the first Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety.

Today, the Newton Police Department has 45 Police Officers and four civilian personnel.  The department has a number of specialized units, including the K-9 Unit and School Resource Officers.

Newton Police Chiefs/City Marshals

This list was obtained from various sources and is believed to be complete. Service overlap is due to the various sources providing different names or dates. These sources also provided differing numbers of Chiefs/Marshals, so all persons found designated as such are included in this list. Sources used were clippings from the Newton Kansan and information compiled about the City of Newton located in the Newton Police history books and archives.

Officers listed with an * in 1871 were appointed as the "Night Policeman" prior to the City of Newton being incorporated. William S. Brooks was the first official City Marshal.

  • 1871-1871 Arthur Delaney aka Mike McCluskie*
  • 1871-1871 Tom Carson*
  • 1871-1871 Carlos King*
  • 1872-1872 William S. Brooks
  • 1872-1872 A. Maxwell
  • 1872-1872 E.S. Sophaur
  • 1872-1873 Jack R. Johnson
  • 1873-1873 David Rasune
  • 1874-1874 B.A. Satterlee
  • 1875-1877 S.D. Wilcox
  • 1877-1877 J.M. Cunningham
  • 1877-1877 M.H. Lakin
  • 1878-1878 A. Pratt
  • 1878-1882 Henry Mayer
  • 1881-1881 L.E. Williams
  • 1882-1883 W.L. Sawyer aka M.S. Sawyer
  • 1883-1885 Henry Mayer
  • 1885-1892 Edward "Ed" Marks
  • 1892-1894 A.L. Miller
  • 1894-1894 J.H. Nowry
  • 1894-1894 J.A. Carlisle
  • 1894-1895 A.R. Ainsworth
  • 1896-1896 G.H. Walker
  • 1896-1902 John A. Cummings
  • 1902-1905 A.R. Ainsworth
  • 1905-1909 D.N. Garten
  • 1909-1912 John A. Cummings
  • 1912-1914 Martin Ballou
  • 1915-1916 Howard Puckett
  • 1916-1929 J. William Brown
  • 1929-1931 J.R. Snyder
  • 1931-1931 J.R. Rickerd
  • 1931-1938 R.D. McGinnis
  • 1938-1942 E. Alden Mathews
  • 1942-1953 C.H. Sherman
  • 1953-1973 C.E. Patterson
  • 1973-1979 P.E. Hastings
  • 1979-1985 D.I. Kelsch
  • 1985-1989 William C. Smith
  • 1989-2001 Ronald G. Jackson
  • 2001-2015 James "Jim" Daily
  • 2015-2019 Eric Murphy
  • 2019-present Ronald "Craig" Dunlavy