By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Details emerged late Friday indicating a possible active-shooter situation at The Center for Counseling and Consultation in Great Bend was a false report. Law enforcement, however, did not know that as they responded to the situation. Tuesday morning, Barton County Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson, who owns Central Plains Security & Satellite Pros, commended officers for their response.
"I just wanted to give a huge shout out to our law enforcement: Barton County Sheriff's Office and Great Bend Police Department," he said. "I believe there were a few highway patrolmen there as well. Amazing job. I had the task of reviewing the cameras since we installed the camera system at the facility. There was no delay. When these guys showed up, they decided they were going to breach the door, then they were going in. They weren't waiting on SWAT, they weren't waiting on keys. These are some very brave men and women and they deserve our respect and admiration."
The incident, which caused a lockdown at nearby Lincoln Elementary School began just after 3 p.m. The school, which was scheduled to release for the day, was locked down from 3:25 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. when given an "all clear" by law enforcement. Hutchinson praised the officers for their work, including Great Bend Chief of Police Steve Haulmark and Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.
"I saw the video and I'm very impressed," Hutchinson said. "These are some consummate professionals. Our chief of police in Great Bend and our sheriff were some of the first people through that door. Huge shoot out to our Barton County Sheriff's Office and Great Bend Police Department."
Staff at The Center for Counseling & Consultation were also in a lockdown during the incident. An individual had entered the facility with something on his belt that was mistaken for a gun.