Editor's Note: This is a copy of a letter received by Hutch Post Wednesday afternoon from FOP Lodge 18 on the firearms issue. Hutch Post has made every effort to accurately copy the letter while editing it in a minor fashion for readability.
This letter is being written on behalf of the Reno County Deputy Sheriff’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #18 members regarding the current issues we see with actions of the Hutchinson Police Department Administration. This letter is to let the public know the whole story about what is going on.
The only information that has been put out is from Chief Hooper. Out of respect for our Sheriff and County Officials we have remained quiet on these subjects. That is no longer what we feel is best for our members.
The first lease between the City of Hutchinson and Reno County regarding the Yeager Firearms Range came about in February of 1985 according to minutes from the Reno County Board of Commissioners. Since that time, the Range has been in the control of the Reno County Sheriff’s Office.
The County has paid the insurance and utilities on the property since that time per the lease agreement. During this time, the County has been responsible for the regular upkeep and maintenance of the Range.
Over the last 36 years the Reno County Deputy Sheriff’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #18 has had a large impact on the Range. Lodge members assisted in pouring concrete, constructing buildings, and making general Range improvements. Many of the improvements were paid for with Lodge funds and constructed with volunteer labor from Lodge members. The Range is a legacy of Lodge #18.
The Reno County Sheriff’s Office has more than 80 sworn Deputies, all sworn Deputies, including those in the correctional facility are issued firearms. As part of the process for Deputies to be issued firearms, we conduct a 36 hour basic firearms class for new staff. Within the correctional facility there is a specialized group who conduct firearms training each month to train for situations which arise in the jail setting.
We also hold basic rifle courses each year prior to Deputies being issued rifles. Other trainings which we hold at the range are SWAT basic courses, biannual department trainings and qualification for Kansas CPOST, night shoots, bi-monthly open range dates with a certified instructor for Reno County Deputy Sheriff’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #18 one on one training, retired qualifications per 18 U.S. Code § 926C, less than lethal and chemical deployment trainings to name a few.
Under the latest proposed contract, control of the Range would be turned “back over to the City”. The Range was never a city range or training facility. This was a discarded piece of city property with no future or intended use. It was considered a useless property prior to 1985.
Members of the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, Reno County Sheriff’s Reserves, and Reno County Deputy Sheriff’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #18 turned the once useless piece of property into a firearms training facility.
The City has not provided any substantial and consistent financial assistance in the Range until last year. This assistance was in paying for concrete work being done on the shooting surface. The obligation to the City for these improvements was $17,000. The Range is utilized by many agencies in and around Reno County and is a direct result of the hard work of those mentioned above. By the City taking back this property, it would lead to FOP Lodge #18 losing the legacy it has created and maintained since 1985.
It is our understanding the City is interested in building a “state-of-the-art firearms training facility”. This would be a great thing for the Law Enforcement Officers of Reno County as a whole.
However, the building of such a facility would lead to the demolition of many of the current facilities. This would also cause Law Enforcement Officers to lose the ability to utilize the range during that time. A state-of-the-art facility would not be able to be constructed overnight. This would cause officers to have to miss out on valuable and required training. A parcel search shows the City currently owns at least four properties large enough and in acceptable areas to accommodate such a project. This would allow the legacy Range to stay in possession of the County. It would also allow officers the ability to train and qualify while the new facility is being built. Also, with the current Budget issues with the city funding it seems like building a new facility would be a waste of city money.
The Yeager Firearms Range is not a state-of-the-art facility; however, with the financial and sweat equity put in over the past 36 years by members, we do feel it is “our” range. The Reno County Sheriff’s Office and FOP Lodge #18 are committed to continuing the legacy of the Yeager Range going forward.
The current administration from the Hutchinson Police Department is only interested in expanding their current reach over everything. They want control of our range so decisions can be made by them and them only. We have never excluded or controlled use of the range from any agency that requested the use. We have been working with Sheriff’s Office Administration and County admin to come to an agreement to upgrade the current range facilities.
The Hutchinson Police Department was asked if they wanted to be a part of this and they declined due to funding. The county was prepared to fund these upgrades completely. Then the Hutchinson Police Department decided they wanted the land and complete control over it. A contract was drawn up by County Officials for a joint agreement for the range property. The City has refused to sign that contract. The fact that the Sheriff’s Office was willing to give up anything on this matter shows our willingness to work together. The City’s unwillingness to agree to the terms shows their true motives as to just take over anything and everything they can.
There was an article that went out discussing the current status of our SRT and ERT teams. There has been a joint team between the Hutchinson Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office. The lack of trust for the Hutchinson Police Department administration caused that agreement to dissolve.
Our agency still agreed to train and assist the Hutchinson Police Department on any call outs as per the region guidelines. The Hutchinson Police Department had an ERT activation in the city and violated those guidelines by calling a response team out of Harvey County to assist them even though we had active members on scene. This again shows the bitterness and unwillingness to work together.
The Hutchinson Police Department's ERT team put the lives of the citizens at risk by not calling our team because they were mad that the teams split. This is just another example of how the greater good is not important to them.
There has been talk of why the Sheriff’s Office and the Hutchinson Police Department cannot get along and work together on things. This is an issue with the Hutchinson Police Department Admin.
There is no way to work with someone who thinks the only way to do things is their way. A perfect example of this happened within the last two weeks. The Sheriff’s Office decided to cut our losses with the range and we removed all county owned items from the property. This would allow the Hutchinson Police Department the opportunity to start fresh with their state of the art training facility they claim to be building.
The Chief has stated numerous times that this facility is going to be open to every Law Enforcement Agency in the county. After removing our equipment a letter was sent telling the city, the county would no longer cover insurance and utilities on the property (which we had done for over 30 years) after July 30th. On July 9th (21 days before the letter stated the county would no longer cover the property) The Hutchinson Police Department at the order of Chief Hooper removed the county owned lock from the gate. This lock had a four digit combination that was known by all agencies.
The Hutchinson Police Department then placed their own lock on the gate which does not give every agency in the county access as stated by Chief Hooper. Sheriff’s Office Admin asked for the code to the new lock and were told no. An email was also sent out to numerous Law Enforcement Agencies in the county by the Hutchinson Police Department asking if they wanted to be on a committee for their new range. The Sheriff’s Office was not included in this email. It appears Chief Hooper wants total control and is not willing to have any discussion over the issue.
We would also like to reassure all the citizens of Reno County that the issues between the agencies that is currently going on will in no way change our duty to serve this great county.
The Sheriff’s Office has always and will always put the safety and security of the citizens first.