The death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis (TN) police officers is appalling and indefensible.  

The brutality suffered by Mr. Nichols and the failure of any of these individuals to intervene is sickening and leaves everyone, including police officers, disgusted, infuriated, and outraged. Our thoughts go out to Mr. Nichols' family, his friends, colleagues, and community.  

The individuals involved have rightly been fired and criminally charged in the death of Tyre Nichols. There is no excuse for their actions. They have betrayed their oath of office, disgraced the law enforcement profession, and brought shame on the officers across the nation who work selflessly each day to protect their communities.    

As police leaders we remain committed to emphasizing dignity and respect for all and instilling within our agencies a fundamental commitment to the preservation of human life.  But we must, and will, do more. We must remain committed to working together in partnership with community members, advocacy organizations, elected officials, and others to build a future that ensures dignity, security, and justice for all. 

Statement from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)

Endorsed by Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks (Life Member of IACP)

The 12 Days of Holiday Safety

In the true spirit of the season, and to help keep family and friends out of harm's way, here are some tips and helpful hints for The 12 Days of Holiday Safety:

On the First Day - prepare for the holidays and safety. Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. If you live in an apartment or are staying in a hotel, know where the fire alarms and emergency exits are located.

On the Second Day -  make a plan. Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations.

On the Third day - think about special needs. Establish a personal support network of friends, relatives, health-care providers, and neighbors who understand your personal needs. Write down details about accommodation needs, allergies, family medical history, medical conditions, etc.

On the Fourth Day - decorate with safety in mind. Never leave burning candles unattended and keep them away from children and pets, decorations and wrapping paper. Cut candlewicks short to prevent a high flame, and if candles are used in a centerpiece, make sure candles don't burn low enough to ignite decorations.

On the Fifth Day -  make your tree safe. When buying a real tree, check that it is fresh (needles are hard to pull off). Water the tree daily - trees can consume up to a gallon of water a day. Place the tree away from high traffic areas, doorways, heating vents, radiators, stoves, fireplaces and burning candles. If young children are around, use safe decorations.

On the Sixth Day - keep lights bright. Make sure you use indoor lights inside your home and outdoor lights outside. Check the light strings and extension cords, throwing out any that are frayed or have exposed wires, loose connections or broken sockets. Never run electrical cords through doorways or under carpets. Turn off all holiday lights before you go to bed or leave your home.

On the Seventh Day -  choose appropriate toys. Always follow age recommendations when choosing toys for children.

On the Eighth Day -     get ready for severe winter weather. Blizzards, ice storms, and high winds can develop quickly. Set up weather alarms on your smart phone or listen to local radio or television stations for severe weather warnings and

advice.

On the Ninth Day -  prepare your car for an emergency. Install winter tires and make sure windshield washer fluid is always filled. Prepare a kit to keep in your vehicle in case of an emergency, with items such as a blanket, a candle in a deep can and matches, and first aid kit with a seat belt cutter.

On the 10th Day -  prevent illness. A flu shot is the safest and most effective way to prevent infection, reduce the severity of the symptoms if you do get sick, and to keep from spreading the virus to others.

On the 11th Day -    learn first aid. Knowing first aid could save a life.

On the 12th Day- know the risks. All across the United States, we face a number of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and wildfires in California, blizzards in Dakota, ice storms in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma and Winter Snowstorms in the Northeast and Midwest. Knowing the risks where you are can help you better prepare and eliminate stress... especially during the holiday season.

During the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to share my thanks and appreciation for each of you. I admire our community for it is one that is strong, caring, and committed to serving one another and supportive of our police department. We are a community where we continue to strive for diversity, inclusion, critical thinking, and freedom of speech by all. 

The law enforcement profession is going through a very difficult era.  The men and women of the Parsons Police Department view these challenges as an opportunity to provide exceptional customer service to our residents knowing how much support Parsons residents have demonstrated to our Department on a daily basis.

As we train new officers to join our ranks, our core policing staff are working extended 12-hour shifts with limited days off. Please recognize the sacrifice these men and women make every day to ensure your safety and the safety of our community. They have already exceeded the arrest total from last year of 681 criminals. So far this year 737 criminals have been removed from the streets of Parsons. Nearly 4,000 people have visited the front lobby at YOUR police department; dispatchers have processed almost 23,000 requests for service.

Unfortunately, we have had a handful of injuries to officers this year, some required surgery. From sprains, torn ligaments, knee and back injuries - assaults on officers are up here and across the nation. Please keep my staff in your thoughts and prayers throughout the holiday season which is a busy time for law enforcement nationwide.

Thanksgiving is an opportunity to realize that we have much for which we can be thankful. This truly American holiday allows us to focus on our blessings and the freedoms we enjoy. It's inspiring to see the men and women of the Parsons Police Department working to help make our community a better place. Thanks to everyone for your contributions to our wonderful community.

Please consider a donation to the Parsons Shop-With-A-Cop Program this season. Mark your calendar to attend the Main Street Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 3rd at 7 pm at the Parsons Municipal Auditorium. The performance is free, but a freewill offering will be taken to raise funds for the Parsons Police Shop-With-A-Cop Program.

You can also make a donation yourself, as a business or as a civic or social organization to support the holidays needs of children and families who need help to ensure that every child enjoys the spirit of Christmas.

Donations can be dropped off or mailed to:

1. Parsons Police Department - 217 Central, Parsons, KS 67357
2. Parsons City Hall - Water Dept - 112 South 17th, Parsons, KS 67357

On behalf of all of the members of the Parsons Police Department, know that we are honored to serve you, and we would like to wish you a Happy, Safe and Sane Thanksgiving!

Thank you for your support!

Robert Spinks, MA, MS

Chief of Police

The Parsons Police Department operates its own 911 Dispatch Center. This allows for the front lobby of the police department to remain open 24-hours-a-day. Dispatchers are also crucial in monitoring the CCTV feed from the agency's 6 cell Lock-Up. A Lock-Up can hold a prisoner for up to 30 days while a Jail can hold a sentenced prisoner for up to a year.

Parsons Police Dispatch is busy and its on track to beat the 2021-year record of handling 34,724 incoming phone calls while dispatching 25,625 incidents along with answering 1,935 9-1-1 calls. Dispatch also greeted an estimated 4,500 persons who visited the police front lobby.

"The nerve center of the Police department is our dispatch center," says Lt Jason Ludwig. "Marti Shields is our Dispatch Director, and we work together to ensure that calls are received and dispatched, but there is a host of infrastructure to maintain. Transmitters, storm sirens, connection to the state radio system, computers and video monitoring are costly and time-consuming. Dispatchers not only manage calls and dispatching of police, but they are the first contact citizens have when they come to the lobby of the police department."

Shields has been on a continuous training cycle with new dispatchers. The competition among 9-1-1 centers to recruit and retain dispatchers is just as fierce as it is for departments recruiting police officers.

The complete remodel and update to the Parsons dispatch center in 2020 brought the center into the 21st century.

"The upgrades to the dispatch center have been well received by our staff. New equipment updated

dispatch stations, new wall mounted monitors and upgrades to our dispatch software make the work environment so much better," said Shields. "It can be an extremely busy part of the police department where dispatchers are truly the 1st Responders. 1st Responders - it usually all starts right here."

Veteran's Day, celebrated on November 11^th every year, is a tribute to military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It is a day of remembering the sacrifices of those who have fought to protect our country.

This special day is set aside to honor US veterans and victims of all wars. This holiday is a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

As the Son of a Pearl Harbor Survivor, my Father was serving on the USS Ralph Talbot, a destroyer that was anchored just off of battleship row in Pearl Harbor Bay on December 7, 1941. So Veterans Day is of special importance to me.

The Men and Women of YOUR Parsons Police Department are humbled by the bravery and courage of the veterans in our community and our country - they are our neighbors, our friends, our families, and our loved ones. We want to thank all our veterans and their families for keeping our country safe.

I especially want to reconize those Veterans who are on our police staff:

Lt. Jason Ludwig - US Navy 1997-2001, engineman third class; US Army 2004-2006, combat engineer, one tour in Iraq.

Sgt Brice Dickens - US Army 2008-2017, military police.

Cpl Kyle Shields - US Marine Corps, 2011-2016, military police, one tour in Afghanistan.

Officer Mark Raney - US Marine Corps, 1986-2010, retired Major, multiple deployments.

Officer Blake Sanchez - US Army, 2017-2019, E-3.

Officer Sean McCullough - US Army, 2014-2018, Sergeant, Afghanistan.

Dispatcher Marshall Sills - US Army, 2007-2008, Combat Engineer

We strongly encourage everyone to think of our veterans and thank them when you see them. We support and honor our veterans, not just on Veteran's Day but every day of the year.

Tuesday, November 8th is a big day for a host of issues. The Public Safety Sales tax is a big issue - not to just help build a future Public Safety Center but to also provide competitive wages, recruit/retain experienced police officers and firefighters, purchase a new fire truck, police and fire training, safety equipment and capital equipment.

For the past quarter century Parsons has been a training ground churning out trained police officers and firefighters for other departments in Kansas. Since 2009, nearly 100 police employees have left for better paying police and private sector jobs. That has been a huge loss in training and knowledge and a huge loss to our community.

How much more effective YOUR fire and police department would be if both were fully staffed with trained and experienced men and women.

The recent cycle of cherry-picking of police and fire staff to higher paying agencies has hit hard. The current labor market has made 1st Responders a valuable commodity here and across Kansas and the nation.

When fully staffed, Parsons PD should have 26 officers. Twenty would be assigned to Patrol, four to Investigations and two to Administration. Today, 10 officers are working patrol, and investigations is currently unstaffed.

To provide 3 patrol units 24/7 requires the staff to work mandatory overtime working three 12-hour days with two off. That can total up to 24 hrs of overtime a week. That is not a sustainable operation either from a budget or family life perspective.

The Public Safety Sales Tax vote on Tuesday will allow the police and fire departments to retain staff as career employees.

Learn more at:

https://www.parsonspd.com/blog?id=44

Note: This factual information does not propose either a yes or no vote. This information is provided as a public service in compliance with state election laws.

Throughout the last nine years, the one-half-cent Public Safety Sales Tax has helped the city keep increased costs of infrastructure off the backs of City residents by reducing the risk of increases from being dumped onto the general city property tax. This small equally distributed sales tax, has allowed the City to cover the cost by funding new fire trucks, police patrol cars, upgrades to the police/fire radio system, modernization of the dispatch/911 center and other critical emergency and City wide infrastructure.

This special, voted on by the citizens, sales tax reduces the cost burden that residents would otherwise shoulder through traditional property taxes. An equally distributed sales tax allows city residents as well as those who visit the community or those who shop in the city but live outside the city to contribute to sustaining these emergency and other City services.

On Tuesday, November 8th, Parsons' voters will be asked to increase the current one-half-cent sales tax to a one penny sales tax effect on January 1, 2024. The extended Public Safety Sales tax will run over a ten-year period. The sales tax initiative, if passed, will continue to fund police and fire capital needs (fire trucks, patrol vehicles, rapid response systems). It will also provide substantive funding for a new City of Parsons Public Safety Center that will house the Parsons Police Department and the Parsons Fire Department. In addition to helping ensure that first responders have salaries and compensation comparable to surrounding communities.

The current public safety sales tax has been in effect for 9 years and will sunset on December 31, 2023.

According to Brad Boss, Parsons Fire Chief, "The cost to replace old fire equipment is significant, if we don't maintain a positive ISO rating we risk increased insurance costs that could hit Parsons' residents in the pocketbook." The Public Safety Sales Tax has and would continue to ensure that we meet the standards set by the Insurance Services Office (ISO). Since 2015, The City of Parsons has been able to maintain an ISO Fire rating of 3, ISO ratings go from a high of 1 to the worst score of 10.

The Parsons Fire Department maintains a Class 3 rating placing the City of Parsons in the top 7 ½ % of the states 948 rated fire departments. (1) Something every citizen can be proud of.

"Both Parsons' fire and police department's employees have been lured away by private industry and other police and fire departments offering a higher pay structure," said Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks. "This is a continuing challenge, which has plagued our city for as long as 25 years where both departments have averaged a 20% annual loss of staff to other employers," Chief Spinks continued, "It is about wages and total compensation. With the current challenges facing employers, recruitment and retention have got to be a priority for the City first responders. The Public Safety Sales Tax will provide resources to ensure that our two departments at least have parity to the surrounding agencies in Southeast Kansas."

1.     according to Verisk @ www.isomitigation.com/. The Public Safety Sales Tax contributes toward maintaining this high rating

Neighbors,

Halloween is CREEPING up on us! The Parsons Police Department wishes everyone a safe and happy Halloween experience. Take a minute to read these 5 tips to make sure you and your family stay safe while trick-or-treating.

• Trick-or-treat with trusted neighbors. Use the Nextdoor Treat Map to plan your route ahead of time and find the safest, most efficient route to the candy. You can access the Treat Map here: http://www.nextdoor.com/treat.
• Dress to impress.....safely. Make sure costumes and candy bags or pails are reflective. Costumes shouldn't drag too far on the ground to avoid tripping, and masks, hats, and shoes should be well-fitting.
• Watch for kids. If you plan to be driving during trick-or-treat hours, watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs. Be sure to enter and exit driveways carefully.
• Stay on the path. Don't stray  from the well-marked routes to get to the candy. Always use the sidewalk, and do not cut across yards or use alleys. Wherever possible, cross the road at a crosswalk.
• When in doubt, throw the candy out. Avoid candy that has loose wrappings, is completely unwrapped, has puncture holes, or is homemade and not factory-wrapped. 

If you have any additional trick-or-treating tips you'd like to share with your neighbors, please reply in the comments below. Boo safe out there!

Scam calls claiming to be Parsons Police have been received in the area. The caller with a slight foreign accent identifies themselves as a Parsons Police Officer. The caller ID shows a ghosted Parsons Police Phone number. The caller says there is a warrant for your arrest and demands payment.

DO NOT provide this caller with any information and hang up. The Parsons Police Department does not call individuals about any arrest warrants and does not demand payment over the phone for bail.

Please report these calls to the Parsons Police.

The Public Safety Fair includes almost 20 agencies.

Saturday, October 15th from 10 am to 4 pm the old Sutherland's bluiding at 2110 Main Street transforms into the Parsons Public Safety Fair.

Med-Flight will land a helicopter on-site as their display! The Parsons Police and Fire Departments will have information tables, free giveaways and equipment displays.

Look for the fire trucks and police vehicles parked in front of Sutherlands and you'll know you have arrived at the 2022 Parsons Public Safety Fair!

Labette Mental Health, Labette Community College Criminal Justice/Fire Science programs, Proud Animal Lovers Shelter, the Rotary Club, Embrace Hope Addiction Counseling, Labette Fire District #9, KHP, Safe House, Mom's Demand action, Carrying Cupboard Hygiene Pantry, and K-9 T-Shirts will be on-site at the Fair.

The first 500 attendees will receive a free Child ID Kit.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 15th to attend the Parsons Public Safety Fair from 10 am to 4 pm. Police, fire, EMS and other helping agencies will be at the Sutherland Bldg, 2110 Main Street to share information and host displays. There will be displays of police, fire and EMS equipment as well.

The first 500 attendees will receive a free child identification kit.

----------

If you are a 1st Responder Organization, non-profit, police, fire, EMS or emergency management group or agency or if your civic or fraternal group supports a public safety program then you are invited to present at the Parsons Public Safety Fair. Sign up today to reserve your free information table by contacting Charlotte Lamb at the Parsons Police Department 620-421-7060 or by email at clamb@parsonspd.com

Our efforts with promoting 'See It! Hear It! Report It!' has contributed to interdicting a host of crimes and criminal activity in our community since we rolled the program out four-years ago. While the crime ate has not jumped, out volume of calls has increased significantly - so YOU are partnering with us to investigate a host of suspicious activities in the City!

You can also participate in the national program of 'If You See Something, Say Something' campaign administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This allows citizens to make reports even when they are outside the city limits.

With the help of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI), the campaign has identified indicators of terrorism-related suspicious activity. These include, but are not limited to, unusual items or situations, eliciting information, and observation/surveillance. Some of these activities could be innocent-it is up to law enforcement to determine whether the behavior warrants investigation.

But we can all help keep our communities safe by paying attention to our surroundings and reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

Protecting Citizens' Civil Rights & Civil Liberties

The "If You See Something, Say Something®" campaign respects citizens' privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties by emphasizing behavior, rather than appearance, in identifying suspicious activity.

Factors such as race, ethnicity, and/or religious affiliation are not suspicious. The public should only report suspicious behavior and situations (e.g., an unattended backpack or package, or someone breaking into a restricted area). Only reports that document behavior that is indicative of criminal activity related to terrorism will be shared with federal partners.

How to Report Suspicious Activity

Public safety and security are everyone's responsibility. If you see suspicious activity, report it to local law enforcement or a person of authority using the "5W's".

Report suspicious activity to a person in authority, such as local law enforcement.

Do not be afraid to report something, even if you are not sure, it was serious.

• Who to tell:

 - On the street, tell a police officer.

 - On a bus, tell the driver.

 - In a train or subway station, tell a security guard.

• What to tell them:

 - WHAT did you observe? Be specific.

 - WHO did you see?

 - WHEN did you see it?

 - WHERE did you see this occur?

 - WHY is it suspicious

WHAT IS SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY?

Suspicious activity is any observed behavior that could indicate terrorism or other criminal activity. Examples include:

• Unusual items or situations: A vehicle in an odd location, unattended luggage/package, open door/window that is normally closed and locked, etc.
• Eliciting information: Questioning individuals at a level beyond mere curiosity about particular facets of a facilities or building's purpose, operations, security, etc.
• Observation/surveillance: unusual attention to facilities or buildings beyond a casual or professional interest. Extended loitering without explanation, particularly in concealed locations with optimal visibility of potential targets. Unusual, repeated, and/or prolonged observation of buildings (e.g., with a video camera or binoculars), taking notes and/or measurements, sketching floor plans.

Many of these activities could be innocent. Law enforcement professionals must examine suspicious behaviors in a larger context to determine whether there is reason to investigate. The activities above are not all-inclusive. They have been compiled from a review of terrorist events over several years.

Protect your every day.

REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY NATIONALLY

855-RPRT-2-S4

(855-777-8274)

It is that time of year, graduations from our K-12 schools are in full swing. Great work to both the students and families as our future leaders make important steps forward!

Today, Friday the 13th is also graduation day for a multitude of individuals at Labette Community College (LCC). It is a wide range of graduates in programs ranging from nursing, engineering, the sciences, transfer degrees to universities, workforce development and certificate programs. In fact, LCC offers 27 degree programs and 8 certificate programs (give them a look at: http://www.labette.edu/catalog/index.html )

The best crime prevention program any community can have are the resources of a community college right in our city. In Parsons we have the benefit of LCC right in town. This makes it easy as possible to have an open door for education for people to develop skill sets and technical skills - it is not just about getting a college degree. It is really important for people to be able to lift themselves up by their bootstraps to compete for living wage jobs, to prepare for a career or to focus on transferring to a university. LCC allows individuals from all socio-economic levels to invest in their future success.

While today, I and the rest of the Parsons Police Department wish these graduates success as they push forward to obtain their dreams, we encourage the community to embrace the huge benefit that LCC provides to our community.

It is open enrollment time at LCC, so I encourage folks to learn more about our outstanding community college, the resources available, the technical skills training, certificate and degree programs that are available right here in Parsons. Education is the door that opens financial security and personal growth while closing the door on poverty, crime, and domestic violence. That is a great combination.

As a side note - the Criminal Justice Program invites you to enroll in a criminal justice class. Our team is comprised of Chris Farris (KBI), Chief Jerry Harrison (Independence Police) and me. We are looking forward to seeing you in class!

Cheers!

Robert Spinks - Chief of Police

Parsons and the surrounding Labette County Area woke up to a Flood Watch issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) extending to 7pm tonight (Thurs, May 5th). There remains standing water in some low lying areas in town. The Public Works Department is monitoring high water areas and has barricaded those areas in residential and commercial areas.

DO NOT DRIVE AROUND BARRICADES. Water depth can quickly deepen and stall or push a car off a roadway.

As a Police Chief, one of the best feelings you can enjoy is to see the hard work of your staff being recognized by the community. Being able to introduce staff and highlighting work performance in a public forum is often understated by government agencies.

In the Thursday, April 21st edition of the Parsons Sun newspaper the police department has a special insert.  We have several new staff to introduce to the community, articles about policing and promotions. 

Today, I want to highlight the announcement that Deputy Chief Dennis Dood has been selected as a 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients by Labette Community College & the LCC Foundation. I want to publicly congratulate Dennis on this award. It recognizes his personal commitment to excellence not only with his formal education, his 16 years of service with the Parsons Police Department, but to his commitment to the community of Parsons.

Dennis is an outstanding partner who I count on every day. I trust his judgment and know he has a heart that cares about our crime victims, kids and the livability of our community. 

I know that LCC and the LCC Foundation will be well represented by their pick of Dennis - he will represent the college, our police department and the Parsons community well into the future.

Cheers!