Michelle Sumstad
$25
Michelle was born and raised in the Minneapolis, MN area. At the age of 22, she visited the Kansas City area and fell in love with it. Michelle has proudly served the Independence, MO Police Department for three decades and is the first minority in a command level position within the police department, currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Police. Michelle’s love for volunteering and philanthropic work started in her early teens in Minnesota by volunteering for Homeward Bound Inc. who assists individuals with disabilities in finding their voice and realize their full potential. She is currently on the board of directors for the Independence Police Charitable Foundation, the Deron Cherry Foundation and the Community Services League. She has recently been honored with the Jackson County Women of Distinction and was also awarded the Susan Paxton Block Award for her leadership within the community.
Her main loves are her wife, Erin (founding director of Midwest Animal ResQ) and all animals big and small. Michelle and Erin have a wide variety of their own pets including goats, chickens, guineas, cats and of course a plethora of senior and hospice dogs. Michelle’s adoption bio would likely read something like this “This senior dog is highly food motivated to the point that she resource guards, she is mostly potty trained, she has selective hearing and at times can be aggressive. With all of that said, Michelle is extremely loyal and the bestest snuggler. She will defend her people fiercely”. Michelle is extremely humbled and honored to be invited to the BMA Foundation’s Dancing with the Stars to raise funds for Midwest Animal ResQ.
