Excelsior Springs, Mo. — The Excelsior Springs Police Department has welcomed two new officers, Joey Leasiolagi and Andrew Burkhalter, while also bringing back a familiar face—Officer John Miles.
Miles, who previously served with ESPD for a year and a half, left for a position with the Independence Police Department but quickly realized that Excelsior Springs was where he wanted to be.
“Nothing against Independence; I spent about eight or nine months there and realized that culturally, it just wasn’t the environment for me,” Miles said. “I felt like Excelsior provided me with more opportunities for growth.”
He cited the department’s leadership and opportunities for professional development as key reasons for his return. “The sergeants here push us to do extra work and encourage us to develop our skills,” he said. “I’ve been able to assist on investigations and write probable cause statements—things that you wouldn’t necessarily get to do at a bigger agency.”
Since returning, Miles has received a warm welcome from the community. “In the few weeks I’ve been back, I’ve had people in the community stopping me and saying, ‘Hey, saw that they brought you back—welcome home,’” he said. “That connection is what I missed about Excelsior.”
Burkhalter, a Marine Corps veteran, also had ties to the department before joining. His friend, Cpl. Anderson encouraged him to apply, and he wasted no time once he left the military. “I would always tell him, ‘Hey, you better save me a spot,’” Burkhalter said. “When I got out in March, one of the first things I did was put in for a ride-along. Then they said, ‘Hey, we’ve got an academy spot in June. Do you want it?’ I hopped on it.”
Burkhalter, who grew up in Liberty and comes from a law enforcement family, said he appreciates the community’s strong connections. “My family goes to church here, and we already knew a lot of people,” he said. “Excelsior Springs just feels really tight-knit.”
For Leasiolagi, the department’s close-knit culture was a big draw. A former Washburn University football player, he had heard positive things about ESPD from friends before deciding to apply. “Everybody here seems like a family,” he said. “You can really tell they support each other.”
With the addition of Leasiolagi and Burkhalter and the return of Miles, ESPD is fully staffed for the first time in years and continues to strengthen the department with officers who value teamwork, community, and professional development.
“I think this is a good place for me to learn,” Miles said. “The leadership here is great, and the community really makes it feel like home.”
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