Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
April 6, 2001, 10:00 a.m.
Department of Corrections, Topeka, Kansas

Present at the April 6, 2001 meeting were committee members: Chairman Chuck Sexson, KBI; Vice-chairman Bill Miskell, Department of Corrections; Colonel Don Brownlee, KHP; Director Ed Pavey, KLETC; Captain Ken Gorman, Fraternal Order of Police; Kenneth Roy, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police; Sheriff Janet Harrington, Kansas Sheriffs’ Association; Steve Starr, Attorney General’s Office; Gary Hibbs, Department of Administration, Division of Facilities Management; Trooper J. L. Riedel, Kansas Troopers’ Association, and Matt Veatch, Kansas Historical Society.

1 Introduction of new member
1.1 Chairman Sexson introduced Trooper J. L. Riedel, the Kansas Troopers’ Association representative on the committee.

2 Approval of minutes
2.1 Mr. Veatch distributed copies of the minutes of the February 2, 2001.
2.2 Capt. Gorman moved approval of the minutes as submitted, Col. Brownlee seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

3 Financial report
3.1 Mr. Veatch distributed the financial report and described the limited activity during February and March 2001.
3.2 Mr. Roy moved approval of the financial report as submitted. Col. Brownlee seconded and the motion was approved.

4 Potential additions to the memorial
4.1 Deputy Sheriff B.H. Casebolt
4.1.1 Sheriff Harrington summarized Deputy Casebolt's death on Sept. 10, 1926 in Falls City in Cowley County. She indicated that she came across the incident while doing Cowley County research.
4.1.2 Deputy Casebolt was investigating a robbery and got shot while chasing the suspect.
4.1.3 He was an officer for the city of Cedarvale as well as a deputy sheriff.
4.1.4 Sheriff Harrington has been in contact with the granddaughter-in-law and other grandchildren who would like to attend the ceremony if Deputy Casebolt is added.
4.1.5 Sheriff Harrington suggested that Deputy Casebolt be added to the memorial at 2002 ceremony.
4.1.6 Director Pavey moved that Deputy Casebolt be added to the memorial in 2002. Vice-chair Miskell seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
4.2 Deputy Sheriff Ronald Palmer
4.2.1 Mr. Starr reported that he had been contacted by Deputy Palmer's son with regard to his father’s eligibility for the memorial.
4.2.2 Mr. Starr researched researched the circumstances of Deputy Palmer’s death from a heart attack in April 1982, and felt that it was worth discussing with the committee.
4.2.3 Mr. Starr reported that Deputy Palmer had finished his patrol and was not officially on duty at the time of his death. He was, however, on patrol with his wife at the time of his heart attack. His heart attack occurred shortly after making a traffic stop. He died a few hours later.
4.2.4 The Shawnee County Sheriff’s office concluded at the time that Deputy Palmer was not on duty at the time of the heart attack and thus was not killed in the line of duty.
4.2.5 More recently, however, the department has listed Deputy Palmer as dying in the line of duty.
4.2.6 Mr. Starr talked to several people about the situation and got different opinions as to whether Palmer should be on the memorial.
4.2.7 Capt. Gorman observed that a key issue was whether the heart attack resulted from action performed in the line of duty.
4.2.7.1 The committee agreed that the facts of the case do not indicate that there was anything involved in the traffic stop that precipitated the heart attack.
4.2.7.2 Chairman Sexson observed that the Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial criteria are quite clear in their eligibility requirements and it does not appear that Palmer meets the criteria.
4.2.8 Vice-chair Miskell suggested that Mr. Starr discuss the issue with Deputy Wanamaker, the deputy who conducted the investigation into Deputy Palmer’s death, to see if he remembers anything that was not in the written record.
4.2.9 Sheriff Harrington suggested that Mr. Starr also talk to Deputy Palmer's wife to see if she can provide additional details.
4.2.10 Director Pavey observed that it might not be appropriate for the committee to dig too hard for facts that are not in the written record.
4.2.11 Chairman Sexson suggested that it is good practice for the committee to get a letter from the department requesting that an officer be added to the memorial.
4.2.12 Chairman Sexson concluded the discussion by asking Mr. Starr to follow through by contacting Wanamaker.

5 2001 Ceremony
5.1 Governor’s office reception
5.1.1 Vice-chair Miskell contacted the governor's office and they agreed to host a short reception in the governor's office at 11:30 a.m. prior to the ceremony.
5.1.2 Committee members are invited to the reception.
5.1.3 Directory Pavey suggested inviting the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate to the reception.
5.2 Chairman Sexson is hopeful that the legislature will take a short recess to attend the ceremony.
5.3 Chairman Sexson reported that KBI Director Welch sent a letter to each of the families of the officers being added to the memorial and they all indicated that they plan to attend the ceremony.
5.3.1 He also indicated that Director Welch sent letters of invitation to the two police chiefs and both plan to attend the ceremony.
5.4 Chairman Sexson stated that KBI agents will be assigned to escort family members during the ceremony.
5.5 Seating
5.5.1 He observed that family members will be seated at the base of the steps and the spouses on the top of the steps.
5.5.2 Chairman Sexson suggested purchasing single rose corsages for the spouses and pinning them on at the reception.
5.6 Programs
5.6.1 Vice-chair Miskell indicated that the Department of Corrections (DOC) would prepare the programs.
5.6.2 Mr. Veatch distributed expanded descriptions of the circumstances of death for each officer and asked committee members to review it.
5.6.2.1 The committee suggested adding information on Lieutenant Galvin’s community involvement and commendation/award information on all three officers.
5.6.2.2 Mr. Veatch will add the information and send an updated version to Vice-chair Miskell as soon as possible.
5.7 Engraving
5.7.1 Matt reported that he had contacted Rick Kern of the Division of Facilities Management earlier in the week regarding the engraving.
5.7.2 Mr. Hibbs will check with Mr. Kern to make sure that arrangements are being made for the engraving.
5.8 Photography
5.8.1 Mr. Veatch reported that he had arranged for the KSHS staff photographer to take still photographs of the reception and ceremony.
5.8.2 Director Pavey suggested that the committee meet at the memorial at 11:00 a.m. for a group photo.
5.8.2.1 Mr. Veatch will make sure the photographer is available for the group photo.
5.9 Encouraging attendance
5.9.1 Pavey commented on the recent COPS Rap Sheet that offered suggestions on how to make the community more involved in memorial services or in police week.
5.9.2 The committee brainstormed about ways to increase attendance at the ceremony.
5.9.3 A press release will be sent out through the AG's office.
5.9.4 Chairman Sexson will send out teletype announcements.
5.9.5 Capt. Gorman suggested trying to get more school children to attend -- especially those touring the capitol.

6 Video of 2000 ceremony
6.1 Brownlee distributed copies of the video of last year's ceremony to committee members.
6.2 Repairs/Enhancement to the Memorial
6.3 Short term repairs (painting the existing names)
6.4 Vice-chair Miskell reported that DOC was not in a position to perform the repair work (painting the names) on the memorial.
6.5 Sheriff Harrington wondered whether VoTech students could do the painting.
6.6 Chairman Sexson commented that it really needed to be a quality job.
6.6.1 Mr. Hibbs reported that he talked to the Division of Facilities Management (DFM) painting crew about how long each name might take and was not able to gather much information.
6.6.2 He speculated that it probably would take as much as 1 hour per name and at the DFM rate of $30/hour it would cost $6,000 - $7,000 to complete the task.
6.6.3 He commented that this was fairly expensive for a temporary repair.
6.7 Permanent repairs to existing memorial and adding an additional ring to allow for future names
6.7.1 Mr. Hibbs reported that he had performed a quick estimate of the cost of erecting another ring around the existing memorial and came up with a $50,000 estimate.
6.7.2 This does not include the $50,000 that would be needed to add new granite caps to the existing memorial.
6.7.3 Thus the total cost of repairs and expansion would be $100,000 and possibly more.
6.7.4 Capt. Gorman commented that he thought the committee could raise this much money.
6.7.5 Chairman Sexson asked what the original memorial had cost.
6.7.5.1 Mr. Roy thought it was $60,000 - $80,000 and other members agreed with the estimate.
6.7.6 Chairman Sexson suggested that whatever approach the committee takes with regard to memorial repair and expansion it needs to use durable stone.
6.8 Fund raising
6.8.1 Capt. Gorman offered his opinion that he felt that there was more urgency to the repair and expansion issue than one might think and that the committee needs to start raising money.
6.8.2 Chairman Sexson agreed and said he felt that a capital campaign needed to be conducted over a fairly short period of time.
6.8.3 Director Pavey asked who would be doing this fund raising?
6.8.4 Capt. Gorman suggested that the committee identify a prominent chairperson for the capital campaign committee, someone with some experience with fundraising.
6.8.5 Chairman Sexson observed that in order to raise money the committee needed a plan and an estimate of how much repairs and expansion would cost.
6.8.6 Director Pavey commented that he did not have a lot of time to perform fundraising and that he would be looking to the various law enforcement associations for assistance.
6.8.7 Sexson asked Mr. Hibbs who could provide additional advice on memorial repair/expansion.
6.8.7.1 Mr. Hibbs said Lardner Monuments could provide advice on stone options.
6.8.7.2 He said that we will need to provide Lardner with a couple of different options and ask them to provide cost estimates.
6.8.8 Capt. Gorman asked whether the work would have to be bid out.
6.8.8.1 Mr. Hibbs and Col. Brownlee both felt it would need to be bid and Chairman Sexson observed that there would be advantages to bidding it out.
6.8.8.2 Chairman Sexson suggested that it might make sense to put together a plan and ask for bids before beginning a fund raising effort.
6.8.9 Mr. Hibbs proposed that the committee go with the plan in which the interior star would be retained, the existing limestone caps would be replaced with granite, and an extra ring be placed around the memorial.
6.8.10 Director Pavey suggested that the committee might be able to get some of the work on the memorial donated or performed at cost.
6.8.11 Chairman Sexson proposed that the committee proceed with finalizing its plan for repairs and expansion.
6.8.11.1 He asked Mr. Hibbs to come up with a plan and run it by Lardner for a cost estimate.
6.8.11.2 Chairman Sexson suggested that DFM and Lardner could present information at the next committee meeting.
6.8.12 Director Pavey suggested that once cost estimates had been developed, the committee could approach the law enforcement associations and seek contribution commitments.
6.8.13 Capt. Gorman again brought up the idea of getting a prominent chairperson.
6.8.13.1 Director Pavey suggested Roy Williams and will follow up on it.

7 Open meetings
7.1 Mr. Starr asked about the pending legislation on open meetings and whether the committee should be sending out notices to the Kansas Register about its meetings.
7.2 Chairman Sexson will follow up on this and make sure that notices of committee meetings are published in the Kansas Register.

8 The meeting adjourned at 11:30. Matt Veatch took the minutes.

9 Next meeting: June 22, 2001, KHP