How an All-American Wrestler Protects and Serves Lawrence
Published on July 26, 2026
LKPD Communications Manager
When you see a police officer, it’s easy to only see the uniform, badge and equipment. But behind the wheel in every patrol car is a person with a history, a unique set of skills, and a life outside the shift.
Corporal Jon Inman’s story is defined by a lifetime of international mat time, discipline, and a deep desire to give back. He’s now using those skills to train new recruits and advocate for his colleagues.
Corporal Inman joined the Lawrence Kansas Police Department (LKPD) in 2017 as a two-time All-American collegiate wrestler who grew up in Branson, Missouri. He now serves in LKPD’s Training Unit as an instructor in LKPD’s Basic Recruit Academy.
"My whole life right now is coaching," Inman says. "I coach people on the streets, I coach in the academy, I coach high school sports, and I love it. You get to see the process. You get to see people start from scratch, and where they are now, and it's super fulfilling."
Can Failure Form a Foundation?
Inman’s journey into wrestling was pretty rough. “I was terrible,” says Inman. “I lost every single match, and I cried and told my dad I never want to do it again,” he says. His dad, however, told him he made a commitment to finish the season and would keep it. Persistence paid off. By his third year, Inman won the Missouri Kid State Championship, became a two-time high school state champion, and a two time collegiate All-American by way of an athletic scholarship to Fort Hays State University. Wrestling with Athletes in Action, allowed him to compete internationally in China, Ukraine, and Mongolia before earning a degree in Criminal Justice.
High Expectations with Realistic Grace
It was a wrestling coach—a police officer from Maryland Heights, Missouri—who originally mentored Inman and inspired him to join law enforcement. Today, Inman applies what he’s learned to the teenagers he coaches at Free State High School, where he has been an assistant coach since 2020.
On duty or on the mat, Inman says connection is key, "I am a wrestling coach that’s also a cop," he says. He uses his platform to instill morals, ethics, and a strong work ethic, keeping expectations high for grades and behavior.
When teenagers inevitably make mistakes, his reaction mirrors the reality he sees every day.
Inman simply asks: “’Hey, what happened?' I'm pretty reasonable because of the things I see out on the streets. I give it to them straight and say, 'Hey man, come on, that's pretty dumb.' I'm not here to rib him for it, just give the expectation. This is the kind of person we want to be and here’s why.”
It seems to work and Inman credits the tight-knit wrestling culture he was raised in. "Whatever magic we've got going on… we put out pretty good wrestlers, but even better kids," he says.
De-escalation Through Discipline
One might assume a championship wrestling background means an officer is ready to throw their weight around, but Inman explains the truth is the exact opposite. He says his elite skills are the ultimate tool for de-escalation:
“People with extensive experience in defensive tactics, use the least amount of force. There’s a level of confidence and competence. If somebody tries to hurt or threaten me, I’m calm. I don’t react out of fear. My movements are deliberate and safe. Wrestling teaches you how to reduce the threat in a controlled way. The goal is not to hurt anyone -- just to control them so I get to go home to my family.”
"A Coach on the Street"
This passion for coaching directly shapes his professional ambitions at LKPD. While some officers climb the ranks with an eye on the Chief's office, Inman has entirely different aspirations. His promotion to corporal has him setting his next goal, becoming a sergeant, for a specific reason: "I want to be a sergeant because I want to be a coach on the street for young cops and mentor them. To me, that sounds like an absolute blast," says Inman.
Opening the Closet Door: Leading the LPOA
His willingness to step up when leadership is required recently thrust him into a massive responsibility: President of the Lawrence Police Officers Association (LPOA). Initially, he joined as Vice President to help a colleague, but jokes, "You open the closet door and everything falls out." That’s exactly what happened. The previous president stepped down upon getting promoted and Inman suddenly found himself speaking at commission meetings and diving deep into the city budget.
When approaching his newest responsibility to his fellow officers, Inman uses a philosophy deeply rooted in mutual respect. He collaborates with leaders at city hall to learn and create mutual understanding.
"I live in this town," he says. "Being armed with information is key. So that's all I try to do... It truly is a position of relationships, and I treat it as such, because I actually care about the people in this city."
Deep Roots in Lawrence
Though he and his family briefly considered moving in the past, Corporal Jon Inman is now firmly committed to remaining in Lawrence to raise his two children. For him, uprooting his life would mean walking away from the very thing that makes his demanding career worth it: the people.
And while Inman admits he regularly encounters people who aren’t happy to see law enforcement, he says that’s the time to change someone’s perspective, and maintains his trademark easygoing demeanor.
"I love the people at our department. I love the people that I coach," he says. "It’s all people, right? And that’s what builds the community anyway. It isn't brick and mortar buildings. It’s the people. And that’s the thing that I’ve come to love and the thing that I won’t give up."