Brad Jager has served the Riley County Police Department and the citizens of Manhattan and Riley County since February 2004. He was promoted to Major on Feb. 28, 2021 and commands the Investigations Division. He previously supervised the Support Division, overseeing Records, the Emergency Communications Center, and IT. He then moved to administration, which oversees budget/finance, public information, training, human resources, and accreditation.
Like most police officers, Jager started his career in the Patrol Division where he was eventually recognized as a Master Police Officer and a Police Training Officer (PTO), training new police recruits. In 2008, Jager was selected to be a case detective in the Investigations Division and later assigned to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). In December 2010, Jager was promoted to Sergeant and took over supervision of the SIU. In 2013, he was transferred back to patrol as a shift supervisor until his promotion to Training Lieutenant in October 2017 where he was responsible for coordinating and delivering much of the department’s training to both sworn and non-sworn employees. Jager was also a longtime member of the department’s Emergency Response Unit’s Tactical Team where he served both as an operator and team leader.
Major Jager is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy and a Certified Public Manager receiving his credentials from The Law Enforcement Leadership Academy. Jager is also a graduate of the Manhattan Leadership Academy and has attended all three courses offered by the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Academy, holding certifications as an instructor for active shooter courses, less lethal, chemical munitions and reality-based training.
Jager has received numerous letters of appreciation and awards during his career. He was chosen by his peers to receive the RCPD Core Value Award for Integrity in 2013 and the Core Value Award for Professionalism in 2019. He was nominated for RCPD Supervisor of the Year in 2016. Jager and other team members received the State Commendation Award from the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police in 2013 for the tactical team’s safe resolution to two significant barricade incidents.