Carpenter, 53, started his stint as police chief for Tonganoxie on Feb. 1. During his three-month tenure, Carpenter said, most of his duties have been administrative.

However, the chief swung into action after a tornado swept into Tonganoxie on May 11.

He found himself coordinating all law enforcement efforts. A lot of his efforts included traffic control.

“Keeping sightseers out the city so that the trucks could maneuver in the clean up was a big part of it, plus the normal calls,” the police chief said.

Carpenter said he owes a lot of thanks to various departments that helped in the efforts, including Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Leavenworth City Police Department, Kansas City Kansas Police Department, Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, Bonner Springs Police Department, Edwardsville Police Department, Lake Quivira Police Department, Lansing Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, Basehor Police Department, Kansas Army National Guard and Military Police from the 35th Infantry Division.

On the administrative front, his promotion of Mark Williams to deputy chief and John Putthoff to sergeant/investigator have helped Carpenter establish a chain of command for the department.

“I am very lucky to have such an exceptionally competent staff in place,” Carpenter said. “I need my department to be in control if I cannot be there.”

Since February, Carpenter’s spent the bulk of his time trying to familiarize himself with the city and its laws. Above all else, he has made it a point to get to know people in Tonganoxie.

“It is a neat community,” Carpenter said. “It is very friendly and volunteer-oriented. It’s amazing how many volunteers we have in the community. Everybody has treated me great.”

The positive reception from the community and other city officials has made the transition a lot easier for Carpenter.

Carpenter has had 29 years of police experience and doesn’t want to miss a beat. He almost did, though.

Carpenter spent from August 1996 until this February working full time driving trucks for a sheet rock company. He worked part time for Lake Quivira Police Department.

“I started to miss it,” Carpenter said. “I missed being involved.”

Carpenter said he hated not being able to see his name in the paper as a contributor in cases. He missed being a full time cop. After all, that was all he had known since 1972.

Carpenter even rode with Kansas City, Kan., policemen when the show “COPS” was filming. But, he requested not to be involved since he was the police chief in Roeland Park. And, yes, the filming is real, he said.

Currently, Carpenter is a military police major for the National Guard.

“I make sure all of my subordinates are trained properly,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter has had a multitude of experiences in his career since graduating from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in 1972, including an 11-week course in 1986 at the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

“It was one of the high points in my career,” Carpenter said. “The course was mainly administrative, but it was definitely a good experience.”

Of course, Carpenter has also enjoyed his time in Tonganoxie.

“I was welcomed by everybody,” Carpenter said.

He has many insights and plans for his department. Setting up the chain of command was one of the first steps.

“Five years down the road, our staff could double,” Carpenter said. “But, there is a lot of ifs, ands or buts about it.”

Carpenter foresees a lot of growth for Tonganoxie and said he would like his department to keep pace with the growth. Currently, the department employs six full-time and 10 part time officers.

This fall he would like to host a Citizens’ Police Academy. He had several while he was chief in Roeland Park.

“The point is to let citizens learn more about law enforcement,” Carpenter said. “Most people have enjoyed it in the past.