HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department promoted four of its officers to new ranks Monday afternoon. The department has three new sergeants: Travis Lahann, Josh Long and Nic Smith. Michael Collins was promoted to lieutenant.
"When I got here, we established a culture," Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper said. "A culture where you hold each other accountable. That culture is based around three core values of honesty, integrity and professionalism."
Hooper said these men have been looked up to by others already.
"Not only do they have those core values deep inside their heart, but they help instill those core values on other people and other officers in the agency," Hooper said. "Each of them, in their own way, has already kind of been a leader and a supervisor."
Lahann, in particular, is literally looked up to by those in the department. He is several inches taller than the other three.
"When people start looking up to you as a leader in the agency, even before you have the rank, that tells me that they're somebody that I should promote to help lead this agency and move us into the future."
Hooper made it clear that promotions in the department are based on acts of service and not on time served.