Excelsior Springs, Mo. — Excelsior Springs Police Department Deputy Chief Robert Warner has successfully completed the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, a nationally respected 10-week leadership program aimed at preparing law enforcement professionals for senior command roles.
Warner, who joined ESPD in 2006 and currently serves as second-in-command under Chief Greg Dull, said the program provided rigorous training in key areas such as leadership and organizational behavior, strategic planning, budgeting, media relations, officer wellness, and human resources.
“It was a challenging and demanding course, but incredibly rewarding,” Warner said. “It pushed me to grow not just professionally, but personally—re-examining how I lead others, how I make decisions, and how I serve both the community and others within the department.”
The Northwestern program, offered through its Center for Public Safety, is known for its academic rigor. Participants are required to complete 27 courses, 24 exams and papers, and a 20-page staff study. Warner’s final project focused on succession planning for the Excelsior Springs Police Department, outlining a structured, long-term plan to identify, develop, and support future leaders within the agency.
“Recruitment and retention are challenges many departments are facing right now,” Warner explained. “I wanted to explore ways we could proactively plan for leadership transitions so that our department remains strong and community-focused well into the future.”
Warner completed the course with a final score of 99.12%. He follows in the footsteps of ESPD Lieutenant Ryan Dowdy, who also completed the program two years ago. Former officer Andy Warner—now serving as the department’s civilian investigations specialist—also graduated from the same course during his active duty years.
Warner credits Chief Dull for fostering a culture of professional development within the department. “Chief Dull has really invested in building leadership at every level,” he said. “He’s planning to attend the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) himself, which speaks volumes about the department’s commitment to excellence.”
Beyond the academic training, Warner said the greatest benefit of the experience was forming connections with law enforcement leaders from across the country. Warner was one of 21 participants in his cohort, representing 13 agencies nationwide.
“Being able to bounce ideas off of classmates who are facing similar challenges brought in fresh perspectives,” he said. “It’s already proven useful in problem-solving and strengthening how we serve our community.”
As for what’s next, Warner said he’s happy where he is—but the program confirmed he’s on the right path.
“One day, yes, I may be interested in serving as Chief of Police,” he said. “But for now, I love working with Chief Dull, and I’m focused on using what I’ve learned to continue improving our department.”
For Warner, programs like this are about more than personal achievement.
“Professional development isn’t just about advancing careers,” he said. “It’s about building better departments and delivering better service to the communities we’re sworn to protect.”
If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!
