
By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Each patrol officer with the Great Bend Police Department has an assigned area in which he or she patrols more often. Thousands of motorists travel across 10th Street each day within the City of Great Bend; therefore, patrolling 10th Street more is an easy call for officers.
Police Chief Steve Haulmark said if an officer does attempt to stop you, your best bet is to pull over to the right and stop your car immediately.
"As an officer, if a person sees you, you know that they see you...that's fine," said Haulmark. "If they slow down and signal that they're going to turn into a parking lot...that's fine. I understand that. What makes an officer a little bit nervous is if they continue driving and they go over that half block or block. Ultimately, the officer who's doing the car stop, is typically doing it where he or she wants to do it."
Haulmark said patrolling the streets and enforcement is also complaint driven. If the Police Department receives a driving complaint and an officer is unable to catch up to the questioned motorist before leaving city limits, the department partners well with other area law enforcement.
"We have multiple channels on the radio but one is Barton dispatch," said Haulmark. "Everybody can hear the call, as long as they're on the channel listening. If they dispatch us on a driving complaint going west and we know we're not going to catch it, the county units are already aware of it typically."
According the city’s website, the Great Bend Police Department’s patrol division is made up of 22 patrol officers. The division works 12-hour shifts.
Listen below to the entire interview with Chief Haulmark on last week's City Edition show that aired on 1590 KVGB & 95.5 FM.