Jailbreak shows importance of training
Staff writer
Soyez introduced Phil Hartsfield, newest member of the Marion Police Department. Hartsfield is retired from the U.S. Army as a major. He was provost marshal (chief of police) of Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, and was also a director of the Aberdeen Civilian Police Academy. He has a bachelor of science degree in political society.
Hartfield and his wife Phyllis are new Marion residents having moved to town from Aurora, Colo.
Hartsfield will serve as community policing officer for the department, giving safety programs and developing and improving programs like the business check program.
Soyez said that program involves visiting with business owners about problems they've had in the past, security issues, good lighting, etc. It also gives officers the opportunity to learn the particular layout of a business ahead of time.
"That way you know where the nooks and crannies are, the attic doors and other places where a suspect might be hiding. And there's still connecting doors to businesses in downtown," Soyez said. "Things you like to know before entering a dark building at night."
Soyez said Hartsfield is certified through the state of Maryland, but it was as yet unknown whether that certification would be accepted in Kansas. If not, he will have to go through 14 weeks of training.
Fire update
Soyez said he recently learned another city employee was involved in an incident he told commissioners about last week. Marion City employee Dale Johnson also was involved in helping avert a possible house fire at 431 Moore, along with city employees Don Druse and Terry Looney.
Incidents of past week::
Dec. 9, officers invested a burglary and theft at Marion Elementary School, were in district court for several cases, and an officer attended the Marion-Florence school board meeting to answer any questions the board might have.
Dec. 10: Officers responded to the area in the 300 block of South First to apprehend an armed escapee from the Marion County Jail. An officer met with a citizen in regard to a sexual exploitation of a child case, responded to one-half mile east of the city limits on K-256 to a grass fire in a ditch, and met with a subject regarding problems the individual is having in his or her neighborhood.
Dec. 11: Officers conducted a meth awareness class for Marion city employees. A subject reported hearing a shot fired in the area of the hospital; however, the officer was unable to locate anything in the area. Officers met with an individual about questions concerning driving restrictions for a learner's permit, and responded to an area of Vine and Washington for a reported fire. A small fire was located. It had been approved for burning by the fire department.
Thursday: Officers attended training on installing car seats. The seats were given to the department by the Marion County Health Department for emergency situations where an officer may have to transport a family to another location. An officer issued a warning for headlight malfunction and curfew violation.
Friday: Officers conducted maintenance to portable breath testing machines, and the field training officer began training the new officer.
Saturday: Officers were doing updated training on accidents, and an officer conducted a funeral escort.
Sunday: A complaint was received of a dog running at large in the Eastmoor Drive area, but an officer was unable to locate the animal.
