Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
December 19, 2000, 10:00 a.m.
Department of Corrections, Landon State Office Building
Topeka, Kansas

Present at the December 19, 2000, meeting were committee members: Colonel Don Brownlee, KHP; Chuck Sexson, KBI; Director Ed Pavey, KLETC; Bill Miskell, Department of Corrections; Captain Ken Gorman, Fraternal Order of Police; Kenneth Roy, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police; Steve Starr, Attorney General’s Office; and Matt Veatch, Kansas Historical Society. Gary Hibbs from the Department of Administration’s Division of Facilities Management also was present at the meeting. Committee members Sheriff Janet Harrington, Kansas Sheriffs’ Association and Trooper Mark Deterding, Kansas Troopers’ Association were not in attendance.

1 Introduction
1.1 Col. Brownlee called the meeting to order 10:05 a.m.
1.2 He introduced Gary Hibbs of the Department of Administrations Division of Facilities Management.
1.2.1 Mr. Hibbs will attend Law Enforcement Memorial Advisory Committee meetings on behalf of the Division of Facilities Management.
1.2.2 Col. Brownlee asked committee members to introduce themselves for Mr. Hibbs’ benefit.

2 Approval of minutes
2.1 Mr. Veatch distributed minutes of the September 19, 2000, meeting for the committee’s review.
2.2 He indicated that he had incorporated a revision suggested by Director Pavey following the committee’s initial review of the minutes.
2.3 Captain Gorman moved approval of the minutes as submitted, Mr. Starr seconded, and the motion carried.

3 Financial report
3.1 Mr. Veatch distributed the financial report and summarized the expenses incurred during the September – November 2000 time period.
3.2 Mr. Roy moved acceptance of the report, Vice-Chair Sexson seconded, and the motion was approved.

4 Repair and expansion of the memorial
4.1 Col. Brownlee summarized the Law Enforcement Memorial repair and expansion issue to provide Mr. Hibbs with necessary background information.
4.2 First, is the committee’s desire to repair memorial, which is exhibiting signs of deterioration.
4.3 Second, the committee has identified that it will need to create space for additional names within four to five years.
4.4 Col. Brownlee observed that the LEM, in its consideration of memorial expansion, had discussed adding a shorter wall around the existing memorial on top of which names could be added.
4.5 Brownlee also commented that the committee might need to consider using a different, more stable type of stone for the existing memorial and for any addition.
4.5.1 Hibbs observed that the limestone used for the memorial is not the type of stone that currently would be recommended for a memorial in an exposed location.
4.5.2 He suggested that the committee consider granite as a replacement material.
4.5.3 Vice-chair Sexson asked about the cost of reengraving the existing names on replacement material.
4.5.3.1 Mr. Veatch stated that engraving cost $150 per name, which would result in a cost of approximately $37500 to reengrave all the names.
4.5.3.2 Director Pavey stated that he believed the committee should develop some strategy to improve the appearance of the existing names.
4.5.4 Brownlee suggested that legislation would be needed to fund the memorial repairs/expansion.
4.5.4.1 Capt. Gorman commented that private fund raising could help defray some of the costs.
4.5.4.2 Director Pavey noted that the 1987 Kansas History article describing the history of the memorial stated that Law Enforcement Memorial donors were listed on the wall of the capital rotunda.
4.5.4.3 The article also indicated that a complete list of donors was available at the KSHS.
4.5.4.4 Mr. Veatch will attempt to find the list.
4.5.5 Vice-chair Sexson, after sketching the outer wall expansion concept on a flip chart, suggested that the committee could consider putting all the names on a new outer wall, using nameplates rather than engraving the stone.
4.5.5.1 Capt. Gorman suggested capping the existing limestone base with granite or some other material.
4.5.5.2 Mr. Roy wondered about the cost of casting bronze plaques to replace existing names.
4.5.5.3 Director Pavey reiterated his support for taking some action to repair the existing names, but suggested that the committee needed to get some cost estimates on options for repair and/or expansion before it could make any decisions about an approach to pursue.
4.5.6 Col. Brownlee asked Mr. Hibbs for suggestions on how to develop options for repair and/or expansion of the memorial.
4.5.6.1 Mr. Hibbs indicated that he would be willing to perform some initial research on the issue.
4.5.6.2 He will try to find original drawings for the memorial and explore options for repair and/or expansion.
4.5.6.2.1 Capt. Gorman mentioned that he believed the state architect had designed the original memorial.
4.5.6.3 Mr. Hibbs will report on his findings at the next committee meeting.
4.5.7 The committee discussed whether legislation would be needed to authorize expansion of the memorial.
4.5.7.1 Capt. Gorman suggested that expansion could be viewed as maintenance and therefore would not require authorizing legislation.
4.5.7.2 Director Pavey contended that the legislature had authorized a specific site for the memorial and that any expansion needed approval from either the legislature or, at least, the Division of Facilities Management.
4.5.7.3 Vice-chair Sexson asked Mr. Hibbs to check on what kind of authorization would be needed to expand the memorial.

5 Legal loophole
5.1 Director Pavey reported on a legal loophole in many state laws that prevented capital murder charges from being filed against suspects in cases involving the killing of a law enforcement officer if the officer was not actively engaged in law enforcement duties at the time of the murder.
5.2 Mr. Starr reported that the Kansas Attorney General’s office was investigating Kansas law to determine if the loophole exists.
5.3 Director Pavey suggested that this was an issue that law enforcement associations may want to address.

6 Date of annual memorial ceremony
6.1 Col. Brownlee summarized the committee’s previous discussion of the possibility of changing the date of the ceremony to coincide with the legislative session in an effort to increase attendance.
6.2 Mr. Gorman observed that it would be necessary to set a date for the ceremony fairly soon so that preparations could get underway.
6.2.1 Vice-chair Sexson suggested Friday, April 20, 2001, as a tentative date.
6.2.2 Capt. Gorman commented that if the ceremony were held during the session then it would be better to avoid Friday, since legislators often returned home on that day.
6.2.3 Col. Brownlee commented that it would be difficult to identify a date that will be good for everyone involved.
6.2.4 Capt. Gorman agreed to make an attempt to work with the legislative leadership to identify a date for the ceremony.
6.3 Gorman suggested that, given the greater potential for weather problems with an early spring date for the ceremony, more attention should be given to contingency plans for inclement weather.
6.3.1 Mr. Miskell suggested the capitol rotunda as the inclement weather option.
6.3.2 Col. Brownlee and Mr. Hibbs both observed that the rotunda is not acoustically pleasing and that the Judicial Center would be better from that perspective.
6.3.3 Col. Brownlee, Mr. Starr, and others observed that the Judicial Center is a little far from the memorial and the capitol and that it would be less likely for legislators to attend a Judicial Center ceremony.
6.3.4 The committee agreed to pursue the capitol rotunda as the inside option.
6.3.5 Capt. Gorman and Mr. Miskell will investigate this option.
6.3.5.1 Several other committee members expressed interest in walking through the rotunda to evaluate it as an option for the ceremony.
6.4 Director Pavey inquired about responsibility for preparing the flyer announcing the memorial service.
6.4.1 Emulating last year’s arrangements, Col. Brownlee agreed to have the Kansas Highway Patrol prepare the copy and Mr. Miskell agreed to have the Department of Corrections print it.
6.5 Director Pavey asked whether it would be beneficial to approach area churches and ask them to invite their congregations to the service.
6.5.1 The committee agreed that this made sense.
6.5.2 Capt. Gorman will look into it.

7 Committee member’s notebook
7.1 Vice-chair Sexson had prepared and distributed a notebook for each member with key information on the committee (roster, minutes, financial reports, correspondence, notes, criteria for inclusion, directory of names on the memorial, and historical documents).
7.2 Mr. Veatch will compile the historical summaries prepared for each of the individuals added to the memorial between 1988 and 2000 for inclusion in the notebook.
7.3 Committee members thanked and commended Vice-chair Sexson for his work on the notebooks.

8 Additions to the Memorial
8.1 Mr. Veatch summarized the five potential additions to the memorial in 2001.
8.2 He indicated that he would perform the necessary research and prepare summaries for each potential addition for the committee’s final consideration at its next meeting.
8.2.1 Vice-chair Sexson stated that he would assist with some of the research.
8.3 Capt. Gorman will work on getting a letter from the Topeka Police Department concerning the officers killed in the helicopter crash earlier in the year.

9 New business
9.1 Vice-chair Sexson suggested adding Mr. Hibbs to the committee roster.
9.1.1 The committee agreed to the proposal.

10 Election of chair and vice-chair
10.1 Chair
10.1.1 Col. Brownlee nominated Vice-chair Sexson for the position of chair for the coming year.
10.1.2 Director Pavey seconded the nomination.
10.1.3 By unanimous vote, the committee elected Vice-chair Sexson as 2001 Law Enforcement Memorial Advisory Committee chairperson.
10.2 Vice-chair
10.2.1 Director Pavey nominated Mr. Miskell for vice-chair.
10.2.2 Mr. Starr seconded the nomination.
10.2.3 By unanimous vote, the committee elected Mr. Miskell as 2001 Law Enforcement Memorial Advisory Committee vice-chairperson.
10.3 Director Pavey expressed commendation, on behalf of the committee, to Col. Brownlee for his excellent performance in the role of committee chairperson.

11 Next meeting
11.1 Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, 10:00 a.m., Kansas Historical Society, Center for Historical Research, Executive Conference Room, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS, 785-272-8681.

12 The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.