The Excelsior Springs Police Department has welcomed a new officer to the force, Scott Van Voorhees. 

Van Voorhees was sworn in at the Hall of Waters on April 3, and was welcomed by the police department when Lieutenant Ryan Dowdy stated, “Scott comes to us with prior law enforcement experience and will be a great addition to our team.” 

Van Voorhees law enforcement career started in 1993 as a reserve deputy for Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Department. “When I was a reserve deputy, it was prior to the U.S. having a police academy standard and I was active-duty military at the time,” he said. 

In 2013 he attended Missouri Western University to become Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified and started with Gladstone Police Department.   

“I first wanted to become a police officer when I was a kid and joined the Explorers Program, but it was when I was enlisted that I started getting recruited to be law enforcement, even though I went in as an electronics technician,” Van Voorhees said. “I joined Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Department as a reserve while I was enlisted so I could figure out if I wanted to stay in the military or get out. If I was going to get out, I wanted to have some experience of the career I wanted to have when I did leave.”   

Van Vorhees had many accomplishments with Gladstone Police Department, including field training officer, defense tactical trainer, being named officer of the year in 2015 and having the second most arrests for three years in a row. 

When his time there came to an end, Van Voorhees believed his time in law enforcement might have been over. That was until Andy Warner, an evidence technician for Excelsior Springs Police Department, reached out telling him about an open position with Excelsior Springs Police Department.    

“I am a big believer in community policing, if you build a connection with the community, they will tell you what’s going on. It’s safer to have a working dialog and with Excelsior Springs I thought I might have a better opportunity to get to know the people and help,” Van Voorhees said. “I am also excited about the number of young officers at this department. I believe in strong mentorship and there’s a good chance I’ll be able to build that type of relationship here.”   

Van Voorhees enlisted in the Navy at 17 as an electronics technician and served for 22 years. After six years enlisted, he received his commission as a logistics officer. In his military career he retired with multiple naval accommodations, service medals, was promoted from an E4 to an 01 and completed three tours, including one year in Iraq.   

Van Voorhees has many other joys in his life, including his wife and two children. After meeting in the military, although the two started out as friends, they’ve been inseparable since. 

One of his children is working as a nurse and the other is away at college. 

“Outside of work I spend most of my time with my wife. In fact, for the past 210 days we have walked no less than five miles every day,” the officer said. “When I’m not working, I’m able to get my steps in and spend quality time with her.” 

Van Vorhees is excited to start this journey with the Excelsior Springs community, saying, “If you see me, talk to me. I want to get to know the citizens on a personal level and I want to build that trust so I am able to help.”