Colonel Herman T. Jones stepped down as Shawnee County Sheriff and was appointed Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol on April 3, 2019.

Col. Jones’ law enforcement career began in 1977 while in college at Emporia State University working with campus police. His experiences in law enforcement and personal connections helped instill his life-long mission to serve others and be, “self-less not selfish.”

Most recently, Col. Jones was Shawnee County Sheriff from 2012 through 2019. He previously served with the Kansas Highway Patrol as a state trooper from 1982 to 1992, then as Director of Administration from 2000 to 2011.

Jones is involved in many law enforcement and civic organizations including his church, the Kansas Peace Officer Association, Kansas Sheriffs' Association, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Topeka.

Most importantly, he is a husband, father of two, and grandfather.

Some of Jones’ other accomplishments include:

• 2012 FBI National Academy Graduate
• 2013 Kansas City Kansas Public Schools Distinguished Alumni
• 2014 National Sheriffs' Institute Graduate
• 2014 Kansas Sheriffs' Association Sheriff of the Year
• 2015 Leadership Topeka Graduate
• 2016 Emporia State University Distinguished Alumni 
• 2018 Leadership Kansas Graduate
• Life Member of the Kansas Peace Officer Association (KPOA) and former President
• Currently serves as a Commissioner for Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (KCPOST); this Commission oversees certification and training for all Kansas law enforcement.