The city of Roeland Park is starting 2025 with a new police chief.
After 25 years with the department — 11 of which he served as chief of police — and 45 years in law enforcement, John Morris retired from his position as Roeland Park police chief on Jan. 1.
Morris told the Post on Monday that he decided to retire while he can still enjoy his family, traveling and taking some off-duty gigs here and there.
“After over four decades, it was time to move back home, basically: spend time with the wife, the grandkids and stuff,” Morris said.
Morris’ successor, Deputy Chief Cory Honas, was scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 6, but the city is waiting to host that ceremony at an in-person meeting (Jan. 6’s meeting took place virtually due to the blizzard).
‘It’s kind of a home place for me’
- Morris said he will cherish his time in Roeland Park forever, but “there’s always a time you got to let go.”
- For the past 45 years, his wife and family have sacrificed “nights, weekends, holidays” for his career, Morris said.
- In his first few days of retirement, he was able to enjoy staying home during a blizzard rather than going into work, he said.
- Still, Morris said he’s made a lot of friends in the Roeland Park community — and it’s become another place to call home over the years.
- “It’s a great place to work,” Morris said. “Roeland Park has been great to me and my family. Though I don’t live there, it’s kind of a home place for me.”
Morris hopes he left a positive impact on Roeland Park
- When Morris was hired at the Roeland Park Police Department in 1999, he was quickly promoted to sergeant and eventually deputy chief. He became the chief of police 11 years ago.
- Morris said he hopes he left Roeland Park better than he found it, and recalled the several additions the police department saw during his 25 years.
- These changes include adding a K9 unit, motorcycle and bike patrol units, he said.
- “We had a lot of good, positive things,” Morris said. “I couldn’t have done it without the officers. I’m just one person that was in charge of a lot of great individuals. It was a team effort.”
Honas has been with the department since 2000
- Honas started with the department in March 2000 in the patrol division, but also served as a K9 sergeant before he was promoted to deputy chief last year.
- Morris said he personally endorsed and fully supported Honas as the city’s next police chief.
- “If you don’t have somebody in your department that’s good enough to move up the ranks in order to be chief, then you’re doing something wrong,” Morris said, noting that staff had some conversations about hiring outside of the department before settling on an internal hire.
- In an interview with the Post, Honas said he is deeply honored to serve as the next police chief and collaborate with officers.
- “That’s a very big plus for us, that we have very great officers to make my job easier,” Honas said.
Leadership, ‘exceptional public safety’ are top priorities
- Honas said he wants to continue to provide “exceptional public safety to” Roeland Park.
- The department has compassionate police officers who enjoy working with the community, he said.
- Honas also wants to strengthen the department’s leadership team by offering advanced training opportunities and hands-on experience.
- Honas said he wants Roeland Parkers to have access to him as police chief, too.
- “As police chief, they can always reach out to me, whether it’s at the station or through other means,” Honas said. “As police chief, I’m always going to be willing and have an open ear to anything they’d like to say or ask.”
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