By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Progress is being made toward better park patrols in the City of Hutchinson. Lovella Kelley, who lives near Orchard Park, came and asked for an update at the City Council meeting Tuesday.
"We did have 15 applicants come in for those positions," said Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper. "Some very qualified applicants. I think we're starting our interview process either later this week or the first of next week to fill those positions."
The program is not fully ramped up yet.
"We have started intermittent park patrol as time allows for the staffing that we do have," Hooper said. "We're not full-time, but we've managed to do some of the patrols in the evenings. That's been really well received. People have stopped our patrols and thanked us for being there and so, it's too early to really let you know what the overall result of that is going to be, but we'll ramp that up as we start to put more personnel on."
The patrols will be throughout all the parks in the City of Hutchinson in an effort to reduce vandalism in those areas.