Campaign Phone
913-732-7602
Personal Biography
Doug Bedford is a former United States Navy SEAL, who also has more than 28 years of law enforcement experience here in Johnson County. Doug retired as the Undersheriff of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in 2021.
Education
Bachelors Degree Business Administration; University of Phoenix University of Kansas Certified Public Manager. University of Virginia Darden School of Business management
Community/Public Service
NW Consolidated Fire District Board of Trustees.
I have been a public servant for more than 36 years (8 years as a US Navy SEAL and more than 28 years in the law enforcement community). I want to reinstall trust and teamwork back into the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; working with city and county police and government agencies to keep the citizens of Johnson County safe. The first step will be to work with city police agencies to enhance drug investigations throughout the county.
I’m very confident as the next Sheriff, relationships will be restored with all police agencies in the area.
Working cohesively with mental health experts is a necessity for all individuals in the detention centers. The goal is to ensure they receive the necessary treatment while not only incarcerated but also upon their release into the community. This can only be done with a close working relationship with mental health experts throughout the community.
As Sheriff I can assure you we will enhance working relationships with city police agencies. The only way to work toward crime prevention is addressing the problems as a team. The Sheriff’s Office will assist with educating our youth on crime prevention, and the importance of making the correct choices within our community.
There are a number of duties and responsibilities, with priority one keeping the citizens of Johnson County safe. By working together to address problems throughout the area; narcotic issues, theft, violent crimes, our cities will be safer, making Johnson County the preferred place to work and live.
Personal Biography
Byron Roberson is the current Chief of Police for Prairie Village and has over 30 years of law enforcement experience. Before entering law enforcement, he served in the U.S. Marines Reserve for eight years, including one year of active deployment during Operation Desert Storm.
Education
BS Criminal Justice-Jackson State University, MS Administration of Justice-University of Central Missouri, FBI Leadership Academy-FBI in Quantico Virginia, School of Police Staff & Command-Northwestern University
Community/Public Service
Johnson County Criminal Justice Advisory Council, VP of Johnson County Police Chiefs and Sheriff's Association, Johnson County Police Academy Advisory Council, KC Metro Investigation Squad, Adjunct Criminal Justice Instructor-UMKC, PREP-KC Mentor, Safehome
Residents deserve a modern sheriff’s office that matches the quality and innovation they enjoy from other local services. As police chief, I make sure my department is continuously looking for data-driven solutions, employing community policing, and requires the most up-to-date training for officers.
For the last eight years, there has been a divide between the sheriff's office and police departments. As Vice President of the County Police Chiefs and Sheriff's Association, I have strong relationships with all of our police chiefs. And I am the only candidate that can start to repair that divide on day one.
As sheriff, I will prioritize mental health, reducing recidivism, support Medicaid expansion, and advocate for common-sense gun laws.
I will partner with Governor Laura Kelly to help expand Medicaid. Medicaid expansion would help cover mental health costs for inmates, giving them support to help with a successful reentry into society. It will also provide the county with more resources to help those struggling with mental health issues before they come in contact with the criminal justice system.
I will also expand our partnership with Johnson County Mental Health, incorporating their agency into our jail system to strengthen mental health support. This will also improve continuity of care for former inmates and reduce their likelihood of reoffending.
It is essential to introduce our youth to law enforcement early, helping them understand the role officers play in keeping them and their families safe. In Prairie Village, we've successfully run the PVPD Youth Academy, modeled after the Johnson County Citizen Academy. The sheriff's office is well-positioned to sponsor this program countywide.
Crime prevention is constantly evolving. I would allocate resources to increasing deputies' involvement in the community, particularly with our senior living communities, as this group is often targeted by fraud and deception schemes.
The primary role of the Johnson County Sheriff is to provide safety and security for the community while treating every person with respect and fairness.
More specifically, the sheriff’s office operates the Johnson County Criminalistics Laboratory, two county adult detention centers, and its own dispatch center, which also serves nine municipal police departments. Additionally, the Johnson County Sheriff’s office provides law enforcement services for Edgerton, De Soto and all unincorporated areas of the county. Deputies are also responsible for serving subpoenas and enforcing protection orders for abuse or stalking.
