The Prairie Village Police Department
7710 Mission Road
Prairie Village, Kansas 66208

Emergencies:  911
Non-Emergencies: (913) 642-6868 or (913) 642-5151
Fax: (913) 385-7710

Chief Eric McCullough is the 8^th Chief of Police of the Prairie Village Police Department.  He holds a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science, a Minor in Biology from Truman State University, and a Master’s of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Baker University.  Chief McCullough is also a 2018 graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.

Chief McCullough began his career as a Prairie Village police officer in January 2003.  He has served as a Field Training Officer, Detective, and was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 2008 to the Patrol Division.  In 2012, he was transferred to the Investigations Unit and became the supervisor for the Special Investigations Unit. There he conducted undercover narcotics investigations until being promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2015.  In 2017, he was transferred to the Traffic Unit as the Traffic Unit Supervisor. He was promoted to Captain in 2020 and served as a Division Commander in all three divisions of the Department.  He was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police in March 2024, and appointed Chief January 2025. 

Chief McCullough was a member of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) from 2007 to 2020 and was the team leader from 2018-2020.  As a Division Commander Chief McCullough was the CIRT team Commander from January 2021 to December 2024.

Captain Joel Porter is the Patrol Division Commander. He is a graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. He is also a 2020 graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.

Captain Porter began his career as a Prairie Village police officer in November 2005. He has served as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, School Resource Officer, and Detective. Additionally, Captain Porter has served as a Patrol Supervisor, Special Investigations Unit Supervisor and most recently as the Professional Standards Sergeant. He has served as a leader of the Crisis Negotiations Team, the Honor Guard, Awards Committee, and as the department Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) liaison. Captain Porter is the department’s Police Pension Board Trustee. Captain Porter was promoted to Captain in January 2025.

Captain Josh Putthoff is the Investigations and Staff Services Divisions Commander.  He is a graduate of Faulkner University with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. 

Captain Putthoff began his career in March 2012 with the Prairie Village Police Department.  He has served as a police officer, detective, Field Training Officer, Patrol Supervisor, and most recently, the Investigations Sergeant.  He has also served as a Hostage Negotiator, leader of the Department’s Peer Support Team, Mental Health Co-Responder Supervisor, Awards Committee leader, and the lead EVOC Instructor.  Captain Putthoff oversees dispatch, records, property, and the professional standards unit. He also oversees the department’s Peer Support Team. Captain Putthoff was promoted to Captain in July 2025.

Staff