The First Responder Salute is a publication of Southern Ash Publishing and distributed in the McPherson News, a weekly newspaper. Please send any changes or corrections to the attention of our editor at editor@ mcphersonweeklynews.com. This salute focuses on First Responders in McPherson, Kan. If you represent another First Responder agency in McPherson County and would like to be included in future editions, contact the editor. Anne Hassler Heidel Publisher/Editor (620) 241-4290
A Tribute to First Responders A basic strength of a healthy and vibrant community is the service of men and women in the role of FIRST RESPONDERS! This group starts in McPherson with our McPherson County 9-1-1 staff. They start the process of emergency response regardless of the nature of the call. Once they dispatch a call fire, police, emergency management, hospital emergency department and BPU staff respond to the specific needs of the emergency call. These groups of crisis solving personnel use professional skill and valor bringing hope to the crisis at hand. They shine bright as they put themselves in the center of a crisis emergency. They put themselves in many dangerous situations daily to keep our community safe. As a community we should continually be aware of their service and support and honor these men and women called, “FIRST RESPONDER�. Pray none of them in our community have to answer their final call. Celebrate them as we are very fortunate to have them servicing us. Tom Brown, Mayor City of McPherson, Kansas
Police Chief’s Message Providing for the safety and security of our citizens
Chief Robert
M. Terry
Asst. Chief
T. Martens Captain
The McPherson Police Department is built on values and built on the strength of our Officers and Staff. Our foundation is based on ethics, leadership, professionalism, training, community involvement, and communication, all strongly supported by the community we serve. It is our goal to provide Law Enforcement Services to our community with compassion and honor based on our core values (Quality, Respect, Integrity, Customer Service, Responsibility, & Teamwork). It is our Mission “…to deliver police services equitably, within the context of the Constitution, in order to resolve community issues and problems while providing for the safety and security of our citizens”. I continually see the public placing higher expectations on the services, care, and professionalism of the officers who respond to calls for service. The external McClarty and internal demands which are placed upon police performance continue to rise. We are expected to respond and resolve any and every uncomfortable social or personal situation, whether emergent or not—we will continue to strive to meet those challenges within the scope of our responsibility. Law enforcement is designed to enforce the laws. We are not a social rehabilitative service though we are trusted to protect and serve. The 34 sworn police officers, along with the 9 full-time and 13 part-time civilian staff members of the McPherson Police Department focus on serving others while resolving issues which fall under the scope of law enforcement across our community while redirecting others to appropriate resources. It would be a mistake to fail to mention all the dissention and violence which has been occurring across our Nation. We have seen racial strife boil and begin to divide our Country and simulD. Reynolds taneously have seen an increase in Officers being ambushed, Chaplain assaulted and killed in the line of duty. Throughout this turmoil, McPherson has shown great support for our Officers, Staff, and our Agency; I truly appreciate all that our community has done and is doing for our Officers, keeping morale high. The McPherson Police Department continually strives to build relationships with the community we serve; providing for a better understanding of the role law enforcement holds and what role law enforcement should fill in our community. We will continue to work to understand the needs of our citizens; assisting them as we can, enforcing the laws justly, and providing resources whenever possible. I also believe community involvement with law enforcement K. McKean in a non-enforcement mode through community policing Captain practices is essential to building relationships. Partnering with our local businesses, faith organizations, and schools is essential to positive law enforcement interaction –gaining and giving support with the community we serve.
A. Bowlby
R. Bauer
J. Baxter
M. Bowen Receptionist
Asst. Admin. Support
M. Brinck
W. Burgess
S. Brunsell
T. Cole
K. Conn Officer
J. Crosthwaite
Evidence Tech/Bailiff
J. Cummins Sergeant
T. Fisher
Records Management
M. Golden
J. Halbmaier
M. Hawkinson
D. Humig Smith A.
Officer
Detective
Detective
Sergeant
Officer
Sergeant
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Officer
Sergeant Officer
A.D. Jones, SmithJr.
R. Smith Keim D.
T. Lott
J. Montagne
A. Mullen
S. Neufeld
R. Olbricht
L. Plummer
S. Quinn
D. Reed
J. Schmidt
S. Snyder
N. Wann
T. Watts
Officer Sergeant
Officer
Sergeant
Lieutenant
Officer
Lieutenant
M. van der Hoven
D. Voth
Officer
Officer
Officer
Officer
Officer
Receptionist
Lieutenant
Officer
Detective
Officer
Deputy
D. Anderson
Captain/DARE Officer
S. Christians
A. Elmer
C. Hanson
J. Hawkinson
J. Jarvis Deputy
J. Johnson
Under Sheriff
K. Knott
S. Koch
D. Scott
R. Sherwood
J. Achilles
Detective
Admin. Asst.
Sergeant
Deputy
Sergeant
Sergeant
Deputy
Deputy
McPherson County Sheriff Long Record of Service, Innovation at Sheriff’s Dept.
J. Gayer Deputy
Sheriff Larry Powell
J. Kaufman Deputy
M. Stucky
Office Deputy
C. Somers & Ravi Deputy K9 Patrol
Larry Powell has served as McPherson County Sheriff since 1992 and has more than 44 years of law enforcement experience. Since becoming Sheriff of McPherson County, Powell has implemented the following: Helped plan the construction of the McPherson City/County Law Enforcement Center. This required the hiring of 10 additional correctional officers to properly staff the new jail. Powell also added nine additional deputies to allow for better patrol of McPherson County. Began the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program for all county schools outside of McPherson. Started the Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team. Started the K-9 programwhich is on its third dog. Assigned a detective to work full time on the Drug Task Force Initiated department-owned, issued and maintained service weapons. Initiated Tasers and other less than lethal weapons for deputies, as well as Tasers for jail supervisors. Initiated patrol cameras as well as body cameras for deputies. Initiated a library for jail inmates with books donated by the public. Offer worship services in the jail as well as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs. Utilize the jail trustee program to assist in the upkeep of the jail as well as the grounds around the Law Enforcement Center. Initiated a garden the trustees take care of that provides vegetables for the jail kitchen. Continued support of the McPherson County Crime Stoppers program of which Powell was the first law enforcement coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office in 1986. Continue to support the Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy program that assists deputies in special events and patrol. Recently Powell became involved in the community outreach program called “Coffee with a Cop.” “I’m proud of the very low turnover rate among my employees in the 24 years I’ve been Sheriff,” Powell said.
Corrections Staff
D. Alvis
B. Bailey
A. Blevins
M. Collins
K. Davis
G. Henderson
J. Hoffman
D. Moore
Corrections
Corrections
Sergeant
Sergeant
Captain
Corrections
Corporal
Sergeant
C. O’Byrne
B. Panebianco
A. Rush
Corrections
Records Management
Detective
C. Taylor
Smith C.D.Venegas
R. Voran D. Smith
Corrections
Sergeant Corrections
McPherson Hospital salutes all first responders. Thanks for making our streets, homes, businesses, communities and health a priority.
Corporal Sergeant
M. Schamp Corporal
J. D.Wilson Smith
Corrections Sergeant
The next time you hear a siren in the distance, don’t just say a prayer for the victim and their families. Say a prayer for the people who face these tragedies everyday and who give their all to save others. We rarely see the tears of these brave men and women, but their sacrifices echo throughout our communities, as do the sacrifices of their families. From all of us at First Bank Kansas, THANK YOU MEMBER FDIC
McPherson Fire Department The McPherson Fire Department is located at 312 E. Kansas. We are comprised of 18 fulltime firefighters and six Paid Call firefighters, with one Fire Chief, two Division Chiefs’ and an Executive Assistant. There are five firefighters per day working a 24 hours shift; all trained, skilled and prepared to respond when you need us. We are honored to be your front line servants and along with our partners in EMS, Law Enforcement, Dispatch and the outlying Volunteer Fire Departments, stand ready to serve and protect you and your family whenever needed. Jeff Deal Fire Chief
Chief Jeff Deal
R. Aguilar Firefighter
Chris Bruton Exec. Asst.
D. Auman
Paid Call Firefighter
C. Davies
Paid Call Firefighter
D. Becker Firefighter
L. Embers Firefighter
C. Biehler
Captain (retired)
A. Gehring Firefighter
S. Graham
L. Green
W. Hall
S. Kaiser
Paid Call Firefighter
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Paid Call Firefighter
W. Lulloff
B. Miles
K. Pauls
Z. Peterson
Lieutenant
A. Rush
Firefighter
Lieutenant
A. Slack
J. Wendt
Paid Call Firefighter
Firefighter
TJ Wyssmann
R. Zrubek
Division Chief
Firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighter
R. Willems
Division Chief
Emergency Dispatch Here at McPherson County 9-1-1, we want our community to know that we are committed to providing the best service to our callers, and the best information to our responders. Though it may seem that we are “asking a lot of questions,” we would like everyone to understand that it is NOT delaying response. There are always AT LEAST two dispatchers on duty, and while you may be talking to one, the second one is sending help to where it’s needed. For medical situations, we can often provide life-saving instructions to anyone on scene who is ready and willing to help. We understand that many times, we are talking to people in the middle of a crisis, and we want to assure you that all Seventeen dispatchers are trained and ready to assist you in handling your situation, whether it be the need for police, fire, or medical. We hope that you never need to call us, but if you do, we’re here for you! Julie McClure Director McPherson Co. Emergency Management & Communications – 911
J. Becker
J. Brinck
Director Julie McClure
A. Brunsell
J. Carr
Comm. Supervisor
Dispatcher
Shift Supervisor
Dispatcher
N. Diederich
M. Godwin
T. Hawkinson
L. Hendricks
Dispatcher
Dispatcher
Assistant Director
Dispatcher
S. Henry
Shift Supervisor
V. Hughes Dispatcher
M. Steinert
T. Warring
Dispatcher
Dispatcher
Not Pictured:
C. Jumet Dispatcher
M. O’Dell Dispatcher
E. Schoen Dispatcher
E. Yates
B. Whitenack
Dispatcher
Dispatcher
Community means everything. Jim LaDuke, Agent 900 N Main Mc Pherson, KS 67460 Bus: 620-241-8600 jim.laduke.b5wc@statefarm.com
1601483
That’s why I’m proud to be here to help life go right – and to support McPherson County. If there’s anything you need, call me.
State Farm, Bloomington, IL
™
McPherson EMS
Paramedic
A. Baxter
Advanced EMT
T. Bruton
J. Clemmons
D. Ebling
N. Finch
M. Gallagher
J. Goetz
T. Henson
N. Kasting
J. Krantz
J. Helmer
B. Adams
Director/Paramedic
EMT
EMT
EMT
Paramedic
EMT
EMT
EMT
Advanced EMT
EMT
EMT
J. McCarty
Advanced EMT
K. Moore
W. Moore
S. Nelson
S. Pyle
B. Redden
S. Rial
J. Steimel
M. Tolle
R. Treder
V. Mann
T. Martens
EMT
EMT
Paramedic
Captain
EMT
EMT
EMT
C. Weast EMT
EMT
Paramedic
Paramedic
D. Werries
Captain/Paramedic
Photo by Michael Anderson, used by permission