Louisburg Police Department patrolman Matt Kelly (left) recently graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, 22 years after his father, Miami County Sheriff Frank Kelly, did so at the same facility. (Photo by Brian McCauley / bmccauley@miconews.com)
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To protect, serve and make Dad proud
Matt Kelly has chosen the same career path as his father, Frank Kelly
By Brian McCauley, bmccauley@miconews.com
As Frank Kelly prepares for a campaign to continue his 14-year stint as Miami County Sheriff, another Kelly in Miami County is preparing to start a law enforcement career of his own. And he’s determined to make a name for himself in the process.
Matt Kelly, a patrolman for the Louisburg Police Department, graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center near Hutchinson on May 9, with his father proudly watching in the audience.
The fresh-faced, blue-eyed 22-year-old officer, who joined the Louisburg Police Department in August, will be the first to tell you that his father was a big part of his inspiration to pursue law enforcement.
“It’s been in my whole life,” Matt said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while.”
Still, the path to Matt’s career wasn’t perfect. After graduating from Paola High School in 2004, he pursued an education in construction management at Kansas State University. It wasn’t until he recently returned home that he dived back into his passion for law enforcement.
“I started coming around (the sheriff’s office) a lot and going on ride-alongs,” Matt said. “I’d get a rush during the ride-alongs.”
He decided to join the Louisburg Police Department last year, but he knew he had to graduate from the training center within his first year at the department. He cleared that hurdle last week, and he said he absorbed a lot during the 14-week course.
“I learned different ways to handle situations, such as traffic stops,” he said.
His favorite part of training, though, was the emergency vehicle operations course, which allows the trainees to fine-tune their driving abilities.
For Frank, the ceremony last week sparked memories of his own graduation from the same training center 22 years ago.
“It was a humbling experience,” Frank said. “It made me think of where I was in my life 22 years ago.”
Frank also told his son to meet as many people as possible and learn from his instructors.
“You make lifelong friends there,” Frank said. “I went through basic with Kevin Bascue, who became sheriff of Finney County. We still keep in touch.”
The training center may have been in the same location, but there were many improvements that weren’t around when Frank graduated. He said there have been many changes in law enforcement over the past 22 years, especially with technology.
“We didn’t have computers in the patrol cars or cell phones,” Frank said.
Despite the technological additions, Frank said one priority in law enforcement never changes.
“Officer safety is number one,” Frank said. “I tell him he has to come home each night.”
Matt said he listens to his father’s advice, but he’s also trying to work hard to be known as Matt Kelly and not Frank Kelly’s son.
“Everybody knew my dad growing up, and it can be tough in a small community,” Matt said. “I had to watch my P’s and Q’s.”
Matt says his fellow officers haven’t treated him any differently, and Frank said he tells his son to go through the proper chain of command in Louisburg if he has any issues instead of calling him.
“He gets no special treatment,” Frank said.
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Matt Kelly, a patrolman for the Louisburg Police Department, graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center near Hutchinson on May 9, with his father proudly watching in the audience.
The fresh-faced, blue-eyed 22-year-old officer, who joined the Louisburg Police Department in August, will be the first to tell you that his father was a big part of his inspiration to pursue law enforcement.
“It’s been in my whole life,” Matt said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while.”
Still, the path to Matt’s career wasn’t perfect. After graduating from Paola High School in 2004, he pursued an education in construction management at Kansas State University. It wasn’t until he recently returned home that he dived back into his passion for law enforcement.
“I started coming around (the sheriff’s office) a lot and going on ride-alongs,” Matt said. “I’d get a rush during the ride-alongs.”
He decided to join the Louisburg Police Department last year, but he knew he had to graduate from the training center within his first year at the department. He cleared that hurdle last week, and he said he absorbed a lot during the 14-week course.
“I learned different ways to handle situations, such as traffic stops,” he said.
His favorite part of training, though, was the emergency vehicle operations course, which allows the trainees to fine-tune their driving abilities.
For Frank, the ceremony last week sparked memories of his own graduation from the same training center 22 years ago.
“It was a humbling experience,” Frank said. “It made me think of where I was in my life 22 years ago.”
Frank also told his son to meet as many people as possible and learn from his instructors.
“You make lifelong friends there,” Frank said. “I went through basic with Kevin Bascue, who became sheriff of Finney County. We still keep in touch.”
The training center may have been in the same location, but there were many improvements that weren’t around when Frank graduated. He said there have been many changes in law enforcement over the past 22 years, especially with technology.
“We didn’t have computers in the patrol cars or cell phones,” Frank said.
Despite the technological additions, Frank said one priority in law enforcement never changes.
“Officer safety is number one,” Frank said. “I tell him he has to come home each night.”
Matt said he listens to his father’s advice, but he’s also trying to work hard to be known as Matt Kelly and not Frank Kelly’s son.
“Everybody knew my dad growing up, and it can be tough in a small community,” Matt said. “I had to watch my P’s and Q’s.”
Matt says his fellow officers haven’t treated him any differently, and Frank said he tells his son to go through the proper chain of command in Louisburg if he has any issues instead of calling him.
“He gets no special treatment,” Frank said.