“If you had told me when I started in law enforcement in Wyandotte County in 1992 that I’d be a sheriff of a Kansas county someday, I’d have said you were crazy,” said Bryan Murphy. PERSONNEL issues are a constant challenge, Murphy said. IN ADDITION to bringing back the DARE program in Moran, Murphy said he may look at adding a computerized voice analysis device to help with investigations.
A few days ago Murphy started his second year as Allen County sheriff. He was elected in November 2012. Terms are for four years.
The comfort level of having the buck stop at his desk is getting better all the time, Murphy said, “although it’s a lot different being the one who has to make decisions. It’s been an adjustment.
“For 21 years I always had someone to answer to, someone to look up to,” he said. “I have been fortunate to have worked under (former sheriffs) Ron Moore and Tom Williams.”
Murphy also has quickly realized that plugging numbers into the budget is more that just making the ledger balance, but comes with the realization that funding in finite.
Undersheriff Jerry Daniels resigned last fall to take advantage of other opportunities and a deputy, Derek McVey, left the force about a month ago.
Roy Smith moved from master deputy to undersheriff when Daniels left, which complicated manpower issues a tad and may require another adjustment. Smith’s primary duty was court security, a time-consuming chore, which he is trying to mesh with his undersheriff responsibilities.
“We’ll see how that works out,” Murphy said, with the thought that he may move a part-time deputy to full time if Smith’s dual duties result in him not being able to give enough attention to one or the other.
Jason Kegler is working part time — he lives near Elsmore and is dean of student development at Neosho County Community College — and would be Murphy’s choice to move into a full-time position.
“I also want to revive the DARE program in Moran, and I think Jason would be an ideal person for that,” he said.
McVey’s exit opened the door for Murphy to hire Joe Robertson, who has been an Iola police officer and had extensive law enforcement experience in Chanute and Neosho County.
“We have six full-time deputies” — others being Anthony Maness, Daren Kellerman, Jeremy Troester, Jarold Tingley and Ryan Redman — he said, plus himself and Smith. “I’m looking for two more part-time deputies,” and doesn’t anticipate any full-time hires.
Weekdays Murphy, Smith and a deputy usually are available to answer calls, with two deputies on duty from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. every day, a schedule that has been in place for years.
“That’s the time when we usually have peak activity,” Murphy said.
“Robertson has experience with polygraphs” and has expressed interest in pursuing voice analysis, Murphy said.
The sheriff’s department also just acquired a thermal imaging device, which he said would be of immense assistance in tracking fugitives, either trying to hide or after dark.
“If we had had it earlier this year it could have made a difference when we were trying to find a guy that ran out on us in the southwest part of the county,” Murphy observed. “We’re trying to keep up with technology,” an extension of the mindset of Williams’ administration when head-mounted cameras were purchased for officers and other tech-savvy additions were made.
Murphy also points to the importance of cooperating with other departments.
“We participated in the active shooter exercise at the college in Chanute with Chanute PD, which went very well,” he said. “We also have good cooperation with police departments in Iola, Humboldt, Moran and LaHarpe,” which makes for better countywide responsiveness.
Sheriff enters second year full-steam ahead
