Wichita, Kansas — Former Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) trooper and National Guard chaplain Mark Leenerts has lost his law enforcement certification following his guilty plea to multiple charges, including theft and official misconduct. The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (KSCPOST) revoked Leenerts’ certification last month, a decision that followed his guilty plea in Shawnee County District Court.
Leenerts, 47, was sentenced to 12 months of probation after pleading guilty to two counts of misdemeanor theft and one count of official misconduct in August 2024. The charges stemmed from a series of shoplifting incidents at Walmart stores while Leenerts was on duty and in uniform. Court documents revealed that he stole merchandise totaling $317.88, including items like doughnuts, M&Ms, Hawaiian rolls, and even dog food.
The KSCPOST ruling found that Leenerts’ convictions disqualified him from maintaining his certification, as they demonstrated a failure to uphold the moral standards required of law enforcement officers. The order stated that his actions had undermined public trust in his role as a law enforcement officer.
Leenerts, a former U.S. Postal Service employee and Iraqi war veteran, served as a full-time law enforcement officer with the Kansas Highway Patrol from July 2018 until September 2023. In addition to his KHP duties, he also held a chaplain position with the Kansas Air National Guard.
The investigation into Leenerts’ actions began in August 2023 when Walmart’s asset protection staff noticed suspicious behavior during his self-checkout transactions. Leenerts was seen skipping scans and failing to pay for several items, including groceries and personal care products. He used his position as a law enforcement officer, sometimes wearing his KHP uniform and carrying his duty weapon while stealing from the store.
Leenerts’ thefts occurred in multiple instances, with at least one incident taking place after he had already been placed on administrative leave by KHP. In that case, he was spotted at Walmart wearing his National Guard uniform with five boxes of doughnuts, though only two boxes were scanned, amounting to a theft of $9.91.
Despite the charges, Leenerts initially maintained his innocence, labeling the prosecution as politically motivated. However, his guilty plea in 2022 followed the plea of his co-defendant, Joshua Smith, who was involved in the theft scheme. Leenerts was sentenced to probation, fined $317.88, and ordered to pay other court costs related to the theft.
In response to the ruling, April McCollum, a KHP spokesperson, stated that Leenerts was placed on administrative leave while KHP supported the investigation and certification review by KSCPOST. “KHP remains committed to eradicating illegal or unprofessional conduct by any law enforcement officer,” McCollum added.
Leenerts’ misconduct also sparked reactions from the Kansas National Guard. A spokesperson for the Kansas Air National Guard commented on Leenerts’ conduct, acknowledging the ongoing personnel review process but refraining from further details due to the active investigation.
Leenerts’ actions have raised concerns about accountability within law enforcement and military branches, as his position in both institutions made his criminal behavior all the more egregious. With his certification revoked, Leenerts’ career as a law enforcement officer and National Guard chaplain has come to an end.
