MERRIAM, Kan. — In January, Merriam Police Maj. Darren McLaughlin wasn't sure if he would be able to return to the career he loved after being diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The same day he received his diagnosis, he stopped going to work.
"That was tough, you know, because you prepare yourself for a lot of things, but I wasn't prepared not to come back," McLaughlin said.
Less than a year later, he's in remission, back to work and starting his new role as chief of the Merriam Police Department.
The 30-year veteran was named police chief at Monday night's City Council meeting.
"It means a lot to me, not just because of the title itself but because of the responsibility of being the face of this organization," McLaughlin told 41 Action News on Tuesday.
McLaughlin began his treatment with chemotherapy, but doctors found it wasn't very successful. They were able to use chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which put McLauglin in remission in July.
He spoke of the overwhelming feeling of love and support during treatment.
"My wife and kids were great and this organization was great. They waited for me," McLaughlin said.
Former Chief Michael Daniels retired after 32 years with the department in April.
"They could have moved on very easily not knowing what was going to happen to me. They decided to wait for me, which was great. I appreciated that," McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said the leaders who came before him did not leave a long list of things that need to be fixed at the department.
"They've left a very healthy organization, we have a great culture here so there's really no big ticket items for me to change," McLaughlin said.
Good communication throughout the department is important for him.
"I want to make sure the officers tell me what's going on, what they need, what they're worried about," McLaughlin said.
He also hopes to focus on recruiting and retaining members to the department because it can be tough getting a large pool of applicants.
"Since I started here, it seems like it's gotten more competitive with so many different agencies and not that many people applying as in the past," McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin was one of two Merriam police officers who were diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
