Weatherby Lake Police Chief Honored for Law Enforcement Career

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that Weatherby Lake, Mo., Police Chief Gary McMullin has received the Award for Lifetime Achievement.

McMullin was honored on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, during the 15th Annual LECC Training Seminar in Springfield, Mo. The award was presented by Les Kerr, who leads the U.S. Attorney’s Office Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee.

McMullin has served the Weatherby Lake community for 44 years, making him the second-longest-serving chief of police in the state of Missouri. Throughout his service, noted Kerr, McMullin has created an enduring impact on local law enforcement. His leadership and commitment to policing have created a standard of professionalism and a legacy of learning. He set high standards for safety and protocol not commonly seen in small organizations.

After a stint in the U.S. Air Force, McMullin began his career in 1968. This included brief stops at Jackson County, North Kansas City and Lake Waukomis. On Jan. 1, 1974, he became chief of police and continues to serve in this capacity. He attended Kansas City Missouri Auxiliary Police Advanced Training Academy, Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy and the Regional Justice Center for Criminal Justice.

McMullin has received numerous certificates of commendation and appreciation. He was awarded the “Outstanding Young Police Officer Award” in 1977, was the recipient of the prestigious John Edgar Hoover Memorial Gold Award for Distinguished Public Service in 1987 and the Clarence M. Kelly Award in 2013. The National Rifle Association has recognized him as a Distinguished Expert in the field of firearms.

Early in his career, McMullin introduced the concept of community policing to foster a dramatic increase in the community’s trust and faith in his police department that still exists today. He was influential in the growth of his agency. He was the only full time officer when hired; the department supplemented staff with volunteer reserve officers. He was successful in getting the city to move them from volunteer status to receiving a stipend and then to receiving a decent hourly wage. Once again he persuaded the city to move them from reserves to part-time officers, and finally expand to its current force of five full-time and 10 part-time officers.

One of his defining characteristics is his leadership style, which fosters mutual trust, good morale and creates a quality work environment. He has utilized these leadership skills by serving on the board of directors of the Missouri Peace Officers Association of which he was awarded a lifetime membership. He also was granted a Life Member Certificate in the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is a member of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs Association, National Rifle Association and Police Marksmen Association. He is a founding member of the Northland Investigators Association, formed to promote collaboration and information sharing among federal, state and local law enforcement.

McMullin has worked tirelessly to obtain skills and equipment that benefit not only his officers but also the community he serves. In the late 70’s with a volunteer staffed ambulance service providing slow response times to his community, he ensured that his officers obtained emergency medical training so they could attend to medical emergencies of his residents. Due to his tireless work seeking funding through donations and community organizations, his agency was one of the first in the area to receive in-car audio/video recording systems, AED’s and body worn camera systems. The significance of this is that many smaller agencies are not able to provide these tools for their officers. He made high standards, officer safety and transparency to his community a priority.

To support the members of the United States Military, he helped form SWAT (Supporting Weatherby Lakes Adopted Troops). Through fundraising efforts and community support, SWAT afforded assistance and encouragement to the adopted troops stationed at Fort Riley, especially during their multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. SWAT honors these heroes on the Fourth of July, supplies care packages while deployed and hosts functions to create memories with their families when they return.

McMullin is a 32nd degree Mason in the Scottish Rite and a practicing member of the Ararat Shrine.