Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
June 14, 2002, 10:00 a.m.
Kansas Highway Patrol Training Facility, Salina, Kansas

Present at the June 14, 2002 meeting were committee members: Chairman Bill Miskell, Department of Corrections; Vice-Chairman Captain Ken Gorman, Fraternal Order of Police; Chuck Sexson, KBI; Colonel Don Brownlee, KHP; Director Ed Pavey, KLETC; Kenneth Roy, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police; Sheriff Janet Harrington, Kansas Sheriffs' Association; and Matt Veatch, Kansas Historical Society.

Also in attendance were Marilyn Goodheart, President, Kansas COPS; Velma Goodheart, Kansas COPS; Stan Grout, Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial; Chris Herrera, Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial; Robert McLemore, Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial; and Chris Standard, Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

1 Introductions
1.1 Chairman Miskell welcomed members of the Kansas Firefighter's Memorial Advisory Committee.
1.2 Meeting attendees introduced themselves.

2 Approval of minutes
2.1 Mr. Veatch distributed copies of the March 22, 2002 meeting minutes.
2.2 Captain Gorman moved approval of the minutes, Mr. Roy seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved as submitted.

3 Financial report
3.1 Mr. Veatch distributed the financial report detailing activity during the September 2001 – May 2002 period.
3.2 Director Pavey moved approval of the financial report as submitted, Colonel Brownlee seconded, and the motion carried.
3.3 Pavey moved, Brownlee seconded, approved as submitted.

4 2002 Memorial Ceremony evaluation
4.1 Chairman Miskell apologized for his absence at the ceremony.
4.2 He asked the group for suggestions on how the ceremony could be improved next year.
4.2.1 The group agreed that overall the reception and ceremony went very well.
4.2.1.1 Fifty-one guests registered at the reception but Sexson observed that there were probably 80 or so people in attendance.
4.2.2 Mr. Sexson commented that next year the committee needs to decide in advance who should sit at the top of the steps.
4.2.2.1 He indicated that there had been some confusion about whether the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate should sit at the top of the steps.
4.2.2.1.1 Mr. Sexson suggested that next year the committee specifically invite the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate to attend the ceremony and provide them with a seat on the top of the steps.
4.2.2.2 Chairman Miskell asked whether the legislators from the area of a fallen officer should receive an invitation.
4.2.2.2.1 The group decided not to issue such invitations but agreed that ceremony organizers be prepared to accommodate legislators from a fallen officer’s area with seats on the top of the stairs.
4.2.2.3 Director Pavey suggested that someone be designated to coordinate the seating on the day of the ceremony.
4.2.2.3.1 Mr. Sexson indicated that he and Captain Gorman worked together this year to coordinate seating but observed that a number of last minute changes caused some confusion.
4.2.2.3.2 Captain Gorman suggested that he could use some help outside getting everything arranged during the hour or so before the ceremony.
4.2.2.3.2.1 Marilyn Goodheart indicated that Kansas COPS could provide some setup assistance.
4.2.2.3.2.2 Sheriff Harrington and Mr. Veatch observed that other committee members also could help.
4.2.2.4 Mr. Sexson proposed that next year it would make sense to have everyone designated to sit on the top of the stairs process out the capitol doors as a group.
4.2.2.4.1 Captain Gorman agreed and suggested that efforts be made to get reception attendees to move outside by 11:45 or so with just those sitting on the stairs walking out the south doors prior to the ceremony.
4.2.2.5 Mr. Sexson and Director Pavey commented that it would be helpful to have some extra chairs available near the site of the ceremony to accommodate unanticipated circumstances.
4.2.2.6 On the whole, everyone felt the ceremony went quite smoothly and that it was better attended than in previous years.

5 Memorial renovation and expansion capital campaign
5.1 Chairman Miskell reported that Lardner Monuments was awarded the contract to dismantle the existing memorial.
5.2 Mr. Sexson reported that he had discussed with KBI Director Welch possible chairs for the capital campaign.
5.2.1 Director Welch indicated that he believed former Attorney General Robert Stephan would be an excellent chair and offered to contact Atty. General Stephan if the committee wished him to do so.
5.2.2 Mr. Sexson observed that Director Welch suggested that the committee meet with leadership of the various law enforcement associations to discuss fund raising strategies before kicking off the capital campaign.
5.2.2.1 The director felt that it was important to communicate the fund raising needs to these organizations before starting the campaign.
5.2.2.2 Director Pavey observed that this joint meeting should occur prior to the associations’ annual meetings, which begin in September.
5.2.2.3 Mr. Sexson agreed and suggested a July or August meeting in Salina or Hutchinson.
5.2.2.4 Director Pavey proposed several potential August dates (8/15, 8/16, 8/22, 8/23) for a meeting at 10:30 a.m. at KLETC in Hutchinson.
5.2.2.5 Director Pavey and Sheriff Harrington agreed to contact the association leaders (FOP, KPOA, Trooper's Association, Sheriff’s Association, Chiefs of Police) and set up the meeting.
5.2.3 Chairman Miskell asked committee members whether they wanted Director Welch to contact Attorney General Stephan to seek his involvement as chair of the capital campaign.
5.2.3.1 Committee members affirmed that they would request that Director Welch make contact with Attorney General Stephan.
5.2.4 Captain Gorman commented that he would like to meet with Attorney General Stephan prior to the August meeting with association leaders.
5.2.5 Chairman Miskell will contact Gary Hibbs to make sure that he will be available for the August meeting so that he can provide information on memorial renovation/expansion cost estimates.
5.2.5.1 Mr. Sexson commented that the current cost estimates were based on information provided by Lardner but he indicated that the committee might want to seek bids on the work.
5.2.5.2 Captain Gorman observed that the committee should keep in mind that the memorial needs to be maintained over time so it might sense to work with a local company.
5.3 Mr. Sexson stated that the committee must file a plan with the Division of Facilities Management for the repair and expansion of the memorial.
5.3.1 He noted that the committee needs Division of Facilities Management approval of the plan before repair/expansion work can begin.
5.3.2 Mr. Sexson volunteered to prepare and submit the plan.
5.3.3 Mr. Sexson indicated that the current repair/expansion plan provided for granite caps as replacements for the limestone caps and the memorial expansion will consist of an extra ring of stone (granite) at a lower elevation than the original ring.
5.3.3.1 Captain Gorman asked whether it would be possible to have some power outlets in the area of the memorial to facilitate the candle lighting ceremony and possibly some lighting of the memorial.
5.3.3.2 Mr. Sexson and Chairman Miskell didn't know for sure but Mr. Sexson said he would ask the Division of Facilities Management about it.
5.3.3.3 Mr. Sexson commented that he had checked with the Degginger Foundry and discovered that they had access to a state seal mold and could produce one for the center of the memorial for about $500.
5.3.3.3.1 The committee agreed that the seal should be included in the plan submitted to the Division of Facilities Management.
5.3.3.4 Velma Goodheart asked about the possibility of placing a bronze sculpture in the center of the memorial.
5.3.3.4.1 Chairman Miskell and Mr. Sexson commented that the committee had discussed this issue but had decided not to pursue it due to the high cost of a sculpture and the challenge of representing all law enforcement officers with one sculpture.
5.3.3.5 Marilyn Goodheart asked about the availability of grant funds for memorial construction.
5.3.3.5.1 Mr. Sexson summarized the legislation being considered by the U.S. Congress to provide grants to states ($150,000 per state) for public safety memorial construction.
5.3.3.5.2 Rep. Dennis Moore was one of the co-sponsors of the bill.
5.3.3.5.3 At this point the Congress has not passed the bill and Mr. Sexson observed that it did not appear that any additional action would be taken on the bill until this fall.
5.3.4 Mr. Sexson will try to get the plan for the memorial restoration and expansion filed with the Division of Facilities Management prior to the August meeting with law enforcement association leaders.

6 Meeting with Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Advisory Committee
6.1 Chairman Miskell asked the firefighters in attendance for an update on their plans for a memorial.
6.1.1 Mr. McLemore stated that the committee had met a couple times and raised a little money but had not developed any firm plans.
6.2 Captain Gorman suggested that the firefighters begin by developing a design for the memorial.
6.2.1 Mr. Grout observed that they had been advised that it would cost $20,000 just for the development of a design.
6.2.2 Mr. Sexson commented that the cost estimate seemed a bit high.
6.3 Marilyn Goodheart asked whether the firefighters had selected a location for their memorial.
6.3.1 Mr. McLemore responded that they had not yet identified a specific location for the memorial on the capitol grounds.
6.3.2 Mr. Sexson displayed and commented on a statehouse grounds site plan depicting the location of the Law Enforcement Memorial following completion of the new parking garage.
6.3.3 Mr. Sexson suggested that the firefighters memorial might work well if placed in the same (northeast) quadrant of the statehouse grounds as the Law Enforcement Memorial, creating a memorial walkway.
6.3.4 Mr. Sexson observed that both committees needed to work in conjunction with the Division of Facilities Management on the design and placement of the memorials.
6.4 Director Pavey asked how many names the firefighters intended to put on the memorial.
6.4.1 Mr. McLemore did not know for sure but he believed it was approximately 109.
6.4.2 Director Pavey suggested that the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Committee clearly define their criteria for inclusion on the memorial.
6.4.3 Captain Gorman observed that the Law Enforcement Memorial legislation includes a provision designating the Historical Society to perform research for the Law Enforcement Memorial Committee.
6.4.3.1 He remarked that extensive and time consuming research often proved necessary to establish on officer’s eligibility for inclusion on the memorial.
6.4.3.2 Captain Gorman suggested that the firefighters needed do similar research and clearly document each addition to their memorial.
6.5 Mr. McLemore asked about the appointment procedures for Law Enforcement Memorial Committee members.
6.5.1 Director Pavey stated that the governor appointed representatives of law enforcement associations.
6.5.2 Chairman Miskell observed that other committee members, like himself, were designees of the specific agency heads identified in the authorizing statute as sitting on the committee.
6.6 The group discussed design ideas for the firefighters memorial.
6.6.1 Captain Gorman commented that the Division of Architectural Services had designed the Law Enforcement Memorial.
6.6.2 He expressed the opinion that the circular, low profile design had served the state well.
6.7 The group discussed possible ways that the Firefighters Memorial Committee could go about gathering and verifying individuals to add to the memorial.
6.7.1 Sheriff Harrington suggested that, as a start, they contact local historical societies.
6.7.2 Captain Gorman suggested that they contact Dan Holt, the current director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene who did much of the initial research on additions to the Law Enforcement Memorial, for research advice.
6.8 Mr. Grout asked about the Law Enforcement Memorial Committee’s initial fund raising efforts.
6.8.1 Captain Gorman pointed out that most of the money for the Law Enforcement Memorial came from law enforcement associations and individual law enforcement officers.
6.8.2 Chairman Miskell suggested that the firefighters consider contacting insurance companies as potential donors.
6.9 The Fallen Firefighters Memorial Committee represented thanked Law Enforcement Committee members for their suggestions.

7 Old business - None

8 Next meeting: Sept. 20, 2002, 10:00 a.m., Kansas Historical Society

9 The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m. Matt Veatch recorded the meeting minutes.