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 Dodd 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!

David Lamont Young III was captured yesterday by the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Cleveland, OH n a charge of attempted murder for a shooting in Parsons, he is also facing other charges in Kansas. He is a convicted felon who should still be in prison if not for a system that often lets predatory habitual felons back onto our streets too soon.

Fortunately, because of the teamwork that brings, state and federal law enforcement services together to form a wide web that is designed to capture criminals like Young to justice the days of Bonnie and Clyde, the Dalton Gang and other criminals that traversed across the Midwest has been reduced.

Policing is a team effort among the 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States. Getting the critical investigative information from victims, witnesses, and citizens just like you provided the foundation for a successful investigation. This combined with forensic evidence and hardworking police officers and detectives lead to identifying the suspect. An arrest warrant was obtained, and the search was on for Lamont. This all takes time and effort.

Last year nearly 700 criminal arrests were made by the Parsons Police Department - unfortunately half of those who were arrested were arrested more than once last year. Two of these arrestees were arrested 12 times!