Bryan Murphy lauded Sheriff Tom Williams for having developed and maintained a high-quality law enforcement agency. THE DEPARTMENT has nine officers, including Murphy and Undersheriff Jerry Daniels.
“I want to keep the department that way and improve it in any ways I can,” said Murphy, 48.
He will be sworn in as sheriff Monday morning, at the same time Williams takes oath of office as an Allen County commissioner.
Some changes may occur, Murphy allowed.
“I want to revive the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in the Moran schools,” he said. “We haven’t had one there for a couple of years, and it is important to educate our young people as early as possible about the dangers of drugs and how to avoid them.”
Schools in Iola and Humboldt have DARE programs through local police departments.
“I also want to push efforts to curb narcotics in the county,” Murphy said. “We work on narcotics all the time, but they’re still there and are an issue that we need to pay attention to every day.
“Drugs are the baseline for a lot of other crimes,” he continued, such as burglaries and thefts that provide perpetrators with money to buy drugs.
Murphy said he also views good community relations as paramount.
“Having good relations with the people we serve is so important and can be very helpful when we’re trying to solve a crime,” he said. “Tom established good rapport with people throughout the county, which prompted all of us who work in the department to have that as a high priority.”
Murphy stressed that he and his officers would take time to visit with people and listen to their concerns.
“That’s what we’re here for, to help everyone living in Allen County,” he said.
Daniels, a veteran officer with service in Humboldt and with the Kansas Highway Patrol, will share some of Murphy’s administrative chores. Both will spend time with patrol duties and answer calls.
Three other officers are master deputies, and have specific roles in addition to normal law enforcement duties.
Roy Smith deals with reviewing daily reports and provides courtroom security. He also is involved with the judiciary in establishing a drug court that will permit some drug violators to be supervised rather than incarcerated.
Daren Kellerman is in charge of reviewing and cataloging videos taken by officers, with vehicle cameras or those they have attached to themselves. He also has a role in officer training.
Tim Beckham is the department’s firearms officer, looks after evidence and, Murphy stressed, is particularly good in dealing with child victims.
Murphy looks ahead
