Title
Amendment to Resolution 96-1993; Establishing a Police Force for the Sedgwick County Courthouse.
Body
Recommended Action: Approve the amendment.
On May 17, 1993 the Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution establishing a security force at the Sedgwick County Courthouse. Paragraphs 2 and 3 of that resolution require amending for the following reasons: 1)To properly refer to the security force established in the resolution as a "Police Force" and 2) to remove reference to the now defunct "Bureau of Central Services."
The resolution passed in 1993 enabled, and consequently established, a fully accredited police force that was referred to as a security force. The current force is recognized by the State of Kansas with its own unique State of Kansas Originating Agency Number registered through the United States: KS098722003. It employs commissioned law enforcement officers for protective/enforcement functions who must pass the same training program and receive the same annual recurring training that any law enforcement officer must pass and receive. The department is subject to all the requirements of any other state or federal police agency, including annual reports such as those relating to racial profiling. Nothing other than rebadging will change as a consequence of this action.
Using Sedgwick County Courthouse Police as the title for this agency has the following benefits:
1) Improves morale and professionalism within the department.
2) Improves public perception of the department. It is not uncommon for the public to equate our current officers with lesser security agencies, such as department store security, and changing the name to "Police Force" improves that perception.
3) In attempting to verbally de-escalate deteriorating situations, the designation of "Police Officer" provides greater effectiveness.
4) Laws affording protection and benefits to "Police Officers" will more clearly apply to our officers.
5) Clearly referr...
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