LAKE OZARK, Mo. — In a special session on Thursday, the Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen appointed Jeff Christiansen with an unanimous vote to serve as the city’s next police chief.
During his appointment, Christiansen stated that he was “looking forward to getting started soon and to continue the work of making the agency better. I am excited to work with the officers, dispatchers, board and department heads to make progress, and appreciate the thorough and well-vetted hiring process.”
Christiansen comes to the city with over 27 years of professional law enforcement experience, most recently serving the citizens of Linn Creek, Missouri as their Police Chief. Prior to his work in Linn Creek, Christiansen spent 26 years at the DuPage County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office, progressing through their patrol and detective divisions, and eventually serving as a Sergeant within their civil division and accreditation and training programs. His professional service includes volumes of experience in training and development, grants, patrol functions, accreditation, and supervision.
Christiansen has a BA and MS in criminal social justice from Lewis University, and is a 2012 graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. While working for the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, Christiansen also worked as an adjunct instructor at Aurora University for a period of 15 years, where he was a founding member of their criminal justice advisory board. He has worked at the College of DuPage as a GED instructor and coordinator as well. He has also has years of experience as an accreditation manager, trainer, and contractor for a series of coroners’ offices in Illinois.
Christiansen is also a co-founder of Celebrate Differences, which is a not- for-profit supporting people with disabilities and their families. He has extensive involvement with the special needs community for the past 18 years, also co-founding the A Pinch of Happiness Spice Shop in Camdenton, Missouri.
At the meeting, Mayor Newberry thanked the members of the hiring committee that helped to identify Christiansen as the next Police Chief. Christiansen will be sworn into the role at the Board of Aldermen meeting on January 10, 2023 at 6:00 P.M.
