WPD POLICE SYMPOSIUM

Major Zach Stephens

Law Enforcement Leader and Educator, Overland Park Police Department

Major Zach Stephens is a law enforcement leader and educator with the Overland Park Police Department. He brings more than a decade of experience in policing, supervision, and leadership development. Currently serving as the Antioch Division Commander. His prior assignments include serving as a Watch Commander, Commander of the Officer of Professional Standards, Detective Sergeant, Community Policing Sergeant, Community Policing Officer, and Patrol Officer.

Major Stephens is the lead instructor for Community Trust and Engagement, Promoting Public Trust, and Public Order Policing at the Johnson County Regional Police Academy. He also serves as an adjunct instructor for the Center for Public Safety Leadership, where he authored and teaches the leadership development course “Forging Leaders" & "Police Leadership 2.0". His instruction emphasizes professionalism, ethical leadership, and building legitimacy in policing. Major Stephens is a Professor of Criminal Justice at Mid-America Nazarene University.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Wichita State University and is pursuing a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership at Liberty University. He is also a Certified Public Manager and a graduate of the KLETC Command School.

Major Stephens resides in Spring Hill, Kansas with his wife and two children. His leadership philosophy centers on integrity, humility, and the responsibility to lift others in the pursuit of excellence.

Beyond The Silo

Bridging Organizational Gaps

The presentation argues that effective police leadership is a regional responsibility, not just an internal agency matter, and that leaders expected to collaborate during crises should be intentionally developed together beforehand to bridge organizational gaps. It details the attributes and actions of effective police leaders based on research and proposes a model for multi-agency leadership development (Regional STEEL) to improve regional public safety outcomes.This presentation, "Beyond The Silo," argues that effective police leadership is a regional responsibility that requires intentional collaboration across agencies to bridge organizational gaps. It highlights the need to develop leaders together before a crisis, based on research into effective leadership attributes, and proposes a model for multi-agency leadership development