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Police Feel The Strains of War
Officers Serving Overseas Handcuffs Osawatomie PD
By Dustin Kass, dustinKass@miconews.com
The war in Iraq hits home every time Osawatomie Police Chief Mike Stiles looks over the department’s work schedule.
Three Osawatomie officers — two full-time and one “very active” part-time — are serving in Iraq. And while the country’s efforts overseas are benefiting from the services of Sgt. John Lofing, patrolman Bill McClain and part-timer Harold Whitley, their absence is having an impact on the department, Stiles and Assistant Police Chief Bob Butters said.
“It’s a big hit when you lose three experienced guys,” Butters said. “It might not have a big impact if it were to happen to Overland Park (Police Department) with all their officers, but we’re talking 25 percent of the department.”
In addition to the three men overseas, who Butters said may return from their tour in November or December, another officer is enrolled in the state law enforcement academy through July.
Fully staffed, the Osawatomie Police Department would have 12 registered officers available, Stiles said. However, he estimates the department has been at full strength for only six months out of the last three years.
The positions of those serving overseas must be available to them when they return, so Stiles said the department has taken steps to fill in the gaps as best it can. He has hired a temporary full-time officer and a part-timer, as the department continues to schedule at least two officers on every shift.
Both Stiles and Butters said they are confident that the department can continue to keep the citizens of Osawatomie safe at the current staffing levels, but Butters also said the shortage impacts the way officers are working.
“It’s harder to be proactive in investigations,” Butters said. “We still do our best there, but part of that is just math — we just don’t have the people.”
The department would still have the smallest staff of any police department in the county even if all its officers were in the country.
The Paola Police Department has 16 officers, while the Louisburg Police Department has 14. The Spring Hill Police Department has 13 officers, as well as an individual devoted primarily to animal control and codes enforcement.
Budget concerns are the biggest roadblock to adding officers to the department, City Manager Bret Glendening said, noting that the idea of increasing the size of the department has been raised before.
“I think our police are doing a tremendous job,” he said. “I also have no doubt that they could use more officers. … The question is, how do we pay for it?”
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Three Osawatomie officers — two full-time and one “very active” part-time — are serving in Iraq. And while the country’s efforts overseas are benefiting from the services of Sgt. John Lofing, patrolman Bill McClain and part-timer Harold Whitley, their absence is having an impact on the department, Stiles and Assistant Police Chief Bob Butters said.
“It’s a big hit when you lose three experienced guys,” Butters said. “It might not have a big impact if it were to happen to Overland Park (Police Department) with all their officers, but we’re talking 25 percent of the department.”
In addition to the three men overseas, who Butters said may return from their tour in November or December, another officer is enrolled in the state law enforcement academy through July.
Fully staffed, the Osawatomie Police Department would have 12 registered officers available, Stiles said. However, he estimates the department has been at full strength for only six months out of the last three years.
The positions of those serving overseas must be available to them when they return, so Stiles said the department has taken steps to fill in the gaps as best it can. He has hired a temporary full-time officer and a part-timer, as the department continues to schedule at least two officers on every shift.
Both Stiles and Butters said they are confident that the department can continue to keep the citizens of Osawatomie safe at the current staffing levels, but Butters also said the shortage impacts the way officers are working.
“It’s harder to be proactive in investigations,” Butters said. “We still do our best there, but part of that is just math — we just don’t have the people.”
The department would still have the smallest staff of any police department in the county even if all its officers were in the country.
The Paola Police Department has 16 officers, while the Louisburg Police Department has 14. The Spring Hill Police Department has 13 officers, as well as an individual devoted primarily to animal control and codes enforcement.
Budget concerns are the biggest roadblock to adding officers to the department, City Manager Bret Glendening said, noting that the idea of increasing the size of the department has been raised before.
“I think our police are doing a tremendous job,” he said. “I also have no doubt that they could use more officers. … The question is, how do we pay for it?”
Comments on "Police Feel The Strains of War"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.hmmm. . . . well anyway wrote on May 19, 2008 9:33 AM:
" Where are Ricky Barnes, Dale Bratton, Larry Johnston, and others. These were good officers for Osawatomie? Maybe if the City did more to recruit and retain people then run them off for various reasons there would be people stepping up to fill the shoes of the kind people off fighting Bush's Terrorism. Support the troops not the administration!
Is Alumni weekend still a get out of jail free weekend for drunk drivers? Great incentive to entice people back to the ultra-conservative City of Osawatomie. "
Is Alumni weekend still a get out of jail free weekend for drunk drivers? Great incentive to entice people back to the ultra-conservative City of Osawatomie. "
not confused with city actions wrote on May 18, 2008 11:11 PM:
" The City did not annex hwy 169 only to make money; however, I have seen this highway being policed. Anyone with an education knows that annexing is in the best interest for any city. I think our city leaders know what they are doing, and this is the first time we have had highly educated people making educated decisions. I would think anyone that is confused with our city actions maybe they need to do further research to understand what is being done. If they still don't understand that’s just a shame. The shortage of officers is a tuff situation, because their jobs have to be held until they come home. It sounds like our city manager has come up with an alternative to ensure our city is being protected. I don't understand trashing the city just for the sake of trashing. "
confused with city actions wrote on May 15, 2008 6:42 PM:
" The City annexed 169 hwy to make more money. What happen here? Is the City just annexing property for the fun of it? They give you a reason to annex that sounds good but they do not follow through,in other words they lie to you. Or our city leaders don't understand how to run a City, in other words they may just be stupid in running a multi-million dollar business. Either way it does not look good for our city. If the city manager can not understand how to pay for more officers, what good is he not being able to understand why they annexed 169 hwy. "