Tyrone Garner (politician)

Tyrone Garner
30th Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 13, 2021
Preceded byDavid Alvey
Personal details
Born1968 or 1969 (age 55–56)
Portland, Maine, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children1
EducationMidAmerica Nazarene University (BA)
Ottawa University (MA)
FBI National Academy
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army

Tyrone A. Garner (born 1969)[1] is an American politician and retired police officer who is currently serving as the 30th[2] mayor of Kansas City, Kansas since 2021. He previously served as the deputy chief of the Kansas City Police Department (KCKPD).

Tyrone Garner was born in Portland, Maine. He grew up in San Jose, California before he and his family moved to Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) at the beginning of his freshman year in high school. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1987 and enlisted in the United States Army. After being honorably discharged, Garner joined the KCKPD where he would serve for over three decades, attaining the ranks of captain, major, and ultimately deputy chief.[3] Mr. Garner was the first and only African American KCK police officer to attend and graduate from the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and was the first African American male commander to ever command the western portion of KCKS. He retired in 2019, and briefly served on the Kansas City Kansas Community College Board of Trustees.[4] Garner served as a governor-appointed Kansas African American Affairs Commissioner for the Kansas Congressional 3rd District.[5] He also appointed the first African-American female chief of staff and county administrator in Wyandotte County.[6]

On November 2, 2021, Garner defeated incumbent David Alvey in a close election to become the first African-American mayor/CEO of the United Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.[7] He took office on December 13, 2021.[8][9]

  1. ^ "Tyrone Garner Elected Mayor in Kansas City, Kansas". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. November 3, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "Tyrone Garner".
  3. ^ "Tyrone A. Garner". Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Rupert, Mary (October 26, 2021). "Mayoral candidates differ on issues at forum". Wyandotte Daily. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Home". garnerformayor.com.
  6. ^ The Kansas City Star (subscription required)
  7. ^ Horsley, Lynn (November 2, 2021). "Tyrone Garner elected first Black mayor of Kansas City, Kansas". KCUR-FM. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  8. ^ "Tyrone Garner - Mayor of Wyandotte County - KCK". garnerformayor.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Schmidt, Heidi (November 17, 2021). "Garner to be sworn in as mayor of Unified Government and KCK in December". WDAF-TV. Retrieved December 7, 2021.