By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Sheriff Darrian Campbell said it was an effort to keep his employees that prompted him to withdraw his personnel from the joint emergency response team with Hutchinson Police.
"With the breakdown of communication in our partnership and the lack of faith that protocols and decisions are being made in the sheriff's office best interest, there were a number of operators that were ready to turn in their equipment and quit the team," Campbell said. "In order for me to salvage this resource for the community, I made the tough decision to withdraw from the joint team."
The community need not worry about coverage.
"The sheriff's office will still have a response team, comprised of eight deputies," Campbell said. "I have also advised that we will still respond to any emergency when we're requested, to provide that resource to the community."
The two agencies have had separate teams before.
"The team merged in, I think, 2006, the 2005-2006 time frame," Campbell said. "Prior to that, we had two teams. The sheriff's had a team and the police had a team. This is really nothing new, but ultimately, the community will still benefit from the resources from the sheriff's office and the police and combined, if we're requested."
The combined team had 14 operators. Each team will now have eight, so total operational strength if help is asked for will actually go up, according to Campbell.
CLICK
HERE to
download the Hutch Post mobile app.
CLICK
HERE to
sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.