Deputy Chief Chester Pinkston began his career with the Wichita Police Department in February 1990. As an officer, he worked in both the Patrol East and Patrol North Bureaus.
In 2000, Chester was promoted to Detective and worked in Auto Theft and the Special Investigations Bureau (SIB) before his promotion to Sergeant in 2005. As a Sergeant, Chester supervised officers at the Patrol East Bureau. He was later assigned to the Exploited and Missing Child Unit, where he was the inaugural Sergeant for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for Kansas.
In March of 2014, Chester was promoted to Lieutenant and supervised shifts at the Patrol North Bureau and SIB investigators. In November 2017, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to Administrative Services, Executive Officer, Patrol East, and SIB.
Chester earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Friends University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Wichita State University. Additionally, during his tenure as an Officer, Detective and Sergeant, he spent several years as the President and Vice President of the local Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #5.
Chester is the recipient of numerous awards, including three bronze wreaths of merit, a bronze wreath of valor, a 20-year bronze wreath of merit, a 30-year-bronze wreath of merit, a life-saving award, distinguished service award, civic achievement award, five-year perfect attendance award, and awards for safe driving over a 20 year period. Chester has been married to Julia for over twenty-three years. Together, they enjoy time with their 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.
In December 2020, Chester was promoted to Deputy Chief and assigned to Field Services after serving as interim Deputy Chief for two months.
