Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
April 11, 2000, 10:00 a.m.
Kansas Highway Patrol Headquarters, Topeka, Kansas

Present at the April 11, 2000, meeting were committee members: Colonel Don Brownlee, KHP; Chuck Sexson, KBI; Director Ed Pavey, KLETC; Sheriff Janet Harrington, Kansas Sheriffs’ Association; Bill Miskell, Department of Corrections; Ken Gorman, Fraternal Order of Police; Kenneth Roy, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police; Mark Deterding, Kansas Troopers’ Association; Steve Starr, Attorney General’s Office; and Matt Veatch, Kansas Historical Society.

Introduction
Col. Don Brownlee, committee chairman, called the meeting to order at 10:55 a.m.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Matt Veatch passed out the minutes of the February 4, 2000, meeting for the committee’s final review. Mr. Veatch reported that he had received no suggestions for revisions to the minutes since he distributed them via e-mail and regular mail several weeks ago. Ken Gorman moved approval of the minutes, Steve Starr seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as written.

Financial Report
Mr. Veatch distributed copies of the financial report summarizing the status of the Law Enforcement Memorial Fund through March 31, 2000. He reported that income since the last report amounted to $1,078, including a $1,000 donation from the Fraternal Order of Police and that there were no expenses. Mr. Veatch stated that he had contacted Rick Kern at the Department of Administration’s Division of Facilities Management to request the addition of five names to the memorial for 2000. In response to questions from several committee members, Mr. Veatch estimated that the usual cost of engraving was approximately $150 to $200 per year.

Report on Names Submitted for 2000 Ceremony
Vice-Chairman Chuck Sexson reported that in a March 14, 2000, letter to Ramon Powers, Executive Director of the Kansas Historical Society, KBI Director Larry Welch submitted four names for inclusion on the Law Enforcement Memorial in 2000. These names were:

Deputy Sheriff James R. Kenney
County/City: Clay County
Date of Death: November 16, 1999

Deputy Sheriff Todd M. Widman
County/City: Brown County
Date of Death: March 1, 2000

Undersheriff E. Ray Kumpf
County/City: Hamilton County
Date of Death: July 3, 1939

Officer Martin H. Grant
County/City: McPherson
Date of Death: February 12, 1937

Vice-Chairman Sexson indicated that Deputy Sheriff Gregory A. Stubbs, who died on June 29, 1998, and whose name was added to the memorial in September 1999, will be included in the program for the 2000 ceremony. He also reported that a fifth name, Deputy Sheriff William H. Everett of Rice County who died on November 24, 1954, had been discovered after the letter had been sent to Dr. Powers. Vice-Chairman Sexson described the circumstances of Deputy Everett’s death and the committee agreed that he met the criteria for inclusion on the memorial. Director Ed Pavey moved that Deputy Everett’s name be added to the memorial for the 2000 ceremony. Trooper Mark Deterding seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

Vice Chairman Sexson asked committee members for suggested revisions to the summaries describing the circumstances of death that will be included in the 2000 ceremony program. Members did not suggest any changes.

Director Pavey reported that an article on the 2000 memorial additions will be published in the forthcoming issue of Kansas Peace Officer, the official publication of the Kansas Peace Officer’s Association. The article will include a photo of the memorial provide by Col. Brownlee as well as the summary for each officer prepared by Mr. Veatch and Mr. Sexson.

Report on 2000 Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony, May 19, 2000
Capt. Gorman requested Col. Brownlee to arrange for the KHP honor guard to perform the twenty-one gun salute. Col. Brownlee agreed to do so. Bill Miskell reported that the committee is cleared to use the state house grounds for the May 19, 2000, ceremony. He also indicated that he is trying to make arrangements for Governor Graves to attend the ceremony. Col. Brownlee reported that the promotional flyer for the ceremony had been distributed to 421 law enforcement officials around the state.

Capt. Gorman suggested that the committee give some thought to honoring canine’s killed in the line of duty. Vice-Chairman Sexson proposed the possibility of included the dogs in an honorable mention in the ceremony program. Trooper Deterding agreed that such an approach warranted consideration. Director Pavey suggested that the committee gather information on what other law enforcement memorial committees are doing on this issue before taking action. Capt. Gorman and Sheriff Janet Harrington agreed to conductthe research and will report back to the committee at its next meeting.

Brochure and Ceremony Announcement
Col. Brownlee passed around the recently printed Law Enforcement Memorial brochure and the 2000 ceremony announcement. He indicated that supplies of both publications were available and urged committee members to take and distribute copies of them.

Report on Repairs and Addition to the Memorial
Col. Brownlee reported that he had submitted a letter to Rick Kern, the committee’s contact with the Department of Administration’s Division of Facilities Management, regarding the status of getting repairs performed on the memorial and the possibility of a memorial addition. Col. Brownlee copied Jim Reardon, Directory of Facilities Management, on the letter. Mr. Reardon replied with a letter stating that legislation was pending in the legislature that proposed prohibiting the construction of any additional memorials on the state house grounds. He also indicated that the legislature was considering a bill proposing the creation of a firefighter’s memorial on the state house grounds. Mr. Reardon stated that the Department of Administration had decided to delay any repairs or additions to the memorial until the resolution of the legislative matters. Col. Brownlee plans to submit another request to Department of Administration regarding memorial repairs following the legislative session.

Benefits Guide for Law Enforcement Death
Director Pavey reported that he had distributed a packet of information from the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S) for the committee’s review. The committee will review the information and discuss it at its next meeting.

Capt. Gorman had a copy of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department’s order relating to line of duty deaths. The order appeared to contain much useful information and the committee agreed that Mr. Veatch should distribute a copy of the order with the next set of meeting minutes.

Other Old Business
Director Pavey reported that he had contacted Jim Nelson’s son about the possibility of adding his father’s name to the memorial. Officer Nelson’s son commended the committee on its work and thanked Director Pavey for his interest but indicated that his father’s death did not meet the criteria for inclusion on the memorial.

Sheriff Harrington reported that she had written Sheriff Gary Caldwell of Clay County to request an official submission of Deputy James R. Kenney’s name for inclusion on the memorial.

The committee engaged in additional discussion of the logistical details of the ceremony. Capt. Gorman indicated that he generally tried to get as many immediate family members on the podium as possible. Director Pavey asked whether additional chairs could be put on the second level of the podium. Capt. Gorman said that is was possible but that he wanted to minimize the number of empty chairs. Director Pavey suggested that extra chairs be made available and that they be set up as needed shortly before the ceremony. The committee agreed that this made sense.

Several committee members raised a concern about whether Deputy Sheriff Widman’s father had died in the line of duty and whether he should be included on the memorial. Sheriff Harrington agreed to discuss the matter with Sheriff Shoemaker of Brown County.

Mr. Miskell indicated that the Department of Corrections will print the ceremony programs.

Capt. Gorman stated that he usually starts sending out announcements of the ceremony via teletype about now. Mr. Miskell agreed to be the contact person for those responding to the announcement.

Vice-Chairman Sexson suggested that, in the event May 19th is a hot day, perhaps the Division of Facilities Management could provide a cooler of water to be made available to the honor guards attending the ceremony. He proposed that a message be sent out requesting honor guards to show up at 11:30 a.m. so that they can get organized and receive instructions. He also indicated that he would have Director Welch extend a personal invitation to the ceremony to Michael King and the family of William H. Everett.

New Business
None

Next Meeting
The next meeting of the committee will be at 10:30 a.m. on September 19, 2000, at the Department of Corrections Central Office, Landon State Office Building, 4th Floor, 900 SW Jackson, Topeka, KS.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m. The minutes were taken by Matt Veatch, KSHS.