Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
September 19, 2000, 10:00 a.m.
Department of Corrections, Landon State Office Building
Topeka, Kansas

Present at the September 19, 2000, meeting were committee members: Colonel Don Brownlee, KHP; Chuck Sexson, KBI; Director Ed Pavey, KLETC; Bill Miskell, Department of Corrections; Captain Ken Gorman, Fraternal Order of Police; Kenneth Roy, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police; Steve Starr, Attorney General’s Office; and Matt Veatch, Kansas Historical Society.

1. Introduction
1.1. Col. Brownlee called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

2. Approval of minutes
2.1. Mr. Veatch distributed minutes of the April 11, 2000, meeting for the committee’s review.
2.2. He commented that he had incorporated several minor changes suggested by committee members after their review of the initial draft of the minutes.
2.3. Director Pavey moved approval of the minutes as submitted, Capt. Gorman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

3. Financial report
3.1. Mr. Veatch distributed the financial report and summarized the expenses incurred during the April – August 2000 time period.
3.2. Director Pavey moved acceptance of the report, Vice-Chair Sexson seconded, and the motion was approved.

4. Report on Memorial Site – Repairs and Expansion
4.1. Col. Brownlee reported that the Division of Facilities Management has yet to name a permanent director.
4.2. He indicated that he would, therefore, discuss memorial repairs and expansion with the acting director of the division.
4.3. Director Pavey asked whether anyone had inspected the site recently to note whether anything had changed.
4.3.1. Col. Brownlee said he had walked by it and had not noticed any additional deterioration.
4.3.2. Mr. Miskell commented that he had noticed that several of the names were quite deteriorated.
4.4. Mr. Miskell asked Col. Brownlee what he planned to talk to the acting director of the Division of Facilities Management about.
4.4.1. Col. Brownlee indicated that he wanted to discuss repairs to the memorial as well as the possibility of putting together a plan for memorial expansion.
4.5. Col. Brownlee summarized the developments to date on this issue
4.5.1. He reminded committee members that he had talked to a legislator earlier in the year about the possible expansion and was told to wait until the conclusion of the legislative session.
4.6. Vice Chair Sexson and Col. Brownlee speculated that at current rates of additions to the memorial, it had several years of expansion room.
4.6.1. Everyone agreed, however, that it would make sense to start planning for an expansion in the near future.
4.6.2. Col. Brownlee suggested that a memorial expansion would not require legislative action if the committee had the money to cover the expansion.
4.6.3. He also pointed out that the committee had authority to raise funds for expansion.
4.6.4. Mr. Miskell suggested that the Committee should get approval from the Division of Facilities Management before pursuing the expansion plan.
4.6.4.1. Vice Chair Sexson commented that it might make more sense to develop the plan before seeking Division of Facilities Management approval.
4.6.4.2. Col. Brownlee stated that the State Architect had indicated that he preferred having Division of Facilities Management approval before considering an expansion plan.
4.6.4.3. Vice Chair Sexson suggested that the committee invite a Division of Facilities Management representative to attend the December 2000 meeting to discuss the expansion plan concept.
4.6.4.4. Director Pavey and Capt. Gorman commented that it would be helpful to add a Division of Facilities Management representative to the committee.
4.6.4.4.1. Col. Brownlee suggested that until the committee’s enabling legislation can be changed to add a Division of Facilities Management representative, he could try to get a division representative to attend LEM meetings.
4.6.4.4.2. Vice Chair Sexson offered to do research on how to approach a statutory change to add a Division of Facilities Management representative to the committee.
4.6.4.4.2.1. He also offered to put together a draft bill to be discussed at the December meeting.
4.6.4.4.3. Col. Brownlee said he would bring up the legislative revision issue with the acting director of the Division of Facilities Management.
4.6.4.5. There was additional discussion of whether it was more appropriate to add a representative from the Division of Architectural Services to the committee (because Architectural Services must approve the design of the memorial) than a Division of Facilities Management representative.
4.6.4.6. Capt. Gorman suggested that the committee could consider adding the Secretary of Administration or his/her designee to the committee.
4.6.4.6.1. Col. Brownlee will discuss the issue with the Sec. of Admin.

5. Other old business
5.1. Director Pavey asked whether anyone had received comments about the 2000 memorial ceremony.
5.1.1. Vice Chair Sexson commented that the King’s had written a letter thanking the committee. The letter has been distributed to committee members.
5.1.2. Mr. Miskell commented that the Secretary of Corrections had suggested that the committee look at ways to boost attendance.
5.1.2.1. Director Pavey observed that the committee had executed a statewide promotional mailing this year in an effort to boost attendance but had not achieved much success.
5.1.2.2. There was some discussion of moving the date of the ceremony or, at least, changing it from Friday to a Wednesday or Thursday since individuals traveling long distances might prefer this.
5.1.2.3. Mr. Miskell and Capt. Gorman suggested the possibility of an all day event on Thursday (involving a training session or a name speaker) that would culminate in the ceremony on Friday.
5.1.2.4. Director Pavey observed that the committee might generate additional attendance by appealing directly to law enforcement organization boards to send people to the ceremony.
5.1.2.5. Mr. Miskell proposed changing the date of the ceremony to coincide with the legislative session.
5.1.2.5.1. Capt. Gorman observed that weather would be an issue in March or April.
5.1.2.5.1.1. He suggested that an inside service ending with a brief outdoor 21 gun salute might be an option.
5.1.2.5.1.2. The problem, he observed, would be finding an inside location for the service.
5.1.2.5.2. Mr. Miskell suggested the first floor of the Capitol as a potential site for the service, perhaps on the Thursday or Friday of the legislative wrap-up session.
5.1.2.5.2.1. Parking would be a problem if it were held during the session.
5.1.2.5.2.2. Mr. Miskell commented that it might be possible to get permission to use the Judicial Center parking lot for official vehicles.
5.1.2.5.3. Capt. Gorman suggested that the lobby of the Judicial Center might be another option for a ceremony site.
5.1.2.5.3.1. Other members felt this proposal also had merit.
5.1.2.5.4. Committee members, generally, agreed that the possibility of moving the ceremony to coincide with the legislative session was an idea worth pursuing.
5.1.2.5.5. Mr. Miskell agreed to investigate possible dates and locations.

6. New business
6.1. Committee member notebook
6.1.1. Capt. Gorman would like to see each committee member receive a notebook containing:
6.1.1.1. Authorizing statute
6.1.1.2. Current committee roster
6.1.1.3. Article from Kansas History describing the history of the memorial.
6.1.1.4. Criteria for inclusion on the memorial
6.1.1.5. Current list of officers on memorial
6.1.2. Vice Chair Sexson, Mr. Veatch, and Capt. Gorman will work on putting a committee member notebook together.
6.2. Chair and vice-chair election
6.2.1. Col. Brownlee observed that it would be appropriate for the committee to elect a new chair and vice-chair at the next committee meeting.
6.2.2. Director Pavey suggested that members interested in serving as chair express their interest to the current chair before the next meeting.
6.3. Line of Duty Death Notification and Policy Development Seminar
6.3.1. Director Pavey reported that Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) was offering this seminar and suggested that the committee consider sponsoring the seminar in Kansas.
6.3.2. He attended a 2 hour awareness level block of instruction at Osage Beach, Missouri in September, 2000 taught by the Executive Director of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and he was provided with a copy of their seminar manual used during a previous, full day seminar held in Kansas City, Mo. during August of this year. The manual provides excellent reference material.
6.4. Additions to the memorial
6.4.1. Vice Chair Sexson brought up Warden F.W. Tierney of Fish and Game Department who died in 1925.
6.4.1.1. Matt will do some research and report back.
6.5. Director Pavey commended the current chair and vice-chair on their outstanding work during the previous year.

7. Next meeting: December 19, 2000 10:00 a.m., LSOB 4th Floor, Dept. of Corrections

8. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 11:08 a.m. Matt Veatch took the minutes.