Rick Inglima, who is Sergeant at the Lee’s Summit Police Department and serves as president of the state Fraternal Order of Police, threw his hat into the ring this week to be nominated as the Jackson County Democratic nominee for Sheriff.

In a letter sent to Jackson County Committee members, Inglima discussed his unique background that combines extensive professional law enforcement experience with the legislative and political experience that is needed to deal with the complexities of this position. He also discussed his vision for improving the Sheriff’s office and the Jackson County jail.

Inglima began his 29-year career in law enforcement after majoring in crime and delinquency at the University of Kansas. During his career, he worked in supervisory positions for municipal and county law enforcement agencies in Missouri as well as for special task forces, including the Northeast Missouri Narcotics Task Force and a Federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

 He continued to train to become a better officer and supervisor throughout his career.  He completed training at both the University of Missouri/Law Enforcement Training Institute and at the Western Missouri Regional Police Academy, having graduated first in my class in academics and firearms from both.  In 1995, he earned the top student award training at the Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Investigations School of the Drug Enforcement Administration.  In 2015, he graduated from the Northwest University School of Police Staff and Command, an intensive program that prepares law enforcement managers for senior positions and gives them the tools to be effective administrators.

In 2011, then-Governor Jay Nixon appointed Inglima to the Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, which oversees the training and continuing education standards for certification and licensure of all sworn law enforcement officers in Missouri.

Inglima has actively taken leadership position with the local lodges and state organization of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).  In 2016, he was elected by his peers to serve as president of the Missouri FOP and was re-elected to that position in 2018.  He is also the president of the regional FOP Lodge #50, which is responsible for representing officers in all agencies in Jackson County, except for the Kansas City and Independence Police Departments.

The Jackson County Democrats are scheduled to choose their nominee this week.  The Democratic nominee and Republican nominee will be on the November 6 ballot for election.