By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Broken Windows theory of community policing was introduced in 1982. Great Bend Chief of Police Steve Haulmark put the theory into actual practice during his 25 years with the Kansas City Police Department. He's now doing the same in Great Bend with Project Clean Sweep. Wednesday morning, the Barton County Commission contributed $5,000 to the project to help clean up the area. Haulmark explained the Broken Windows theory to commissioners.
"When people see trash and blight it can translate to a feeling that an area is bad or unsafe," he said. "Then more trash and blight comes, and maybe more serious crimes occur in those areas because people think nobody cares."
The project began when Haulmark and other police officers helped remove more than 10 tons of trash near the river. Workers also spent a few days cleaning up a property in the 200 block of Frey Street. Commission Chair Shawn Hutchinson heard of the project and wanted to contribute. Wednesday's allocation of $5,000 to the project follows last week's joint meeting with the Great Bend City Council.
"One of the things you told me when we first started this conversation was that you'd spent close to a week down on the river just cleaning up that mess," Hutchinson said. "That's what made me really think maybe the county could step up and help you out a little bit."
The police department gets a list of properties that need addressed from code enforcement. The project will focus on homeowners who are incapable of doing abatement work themselves. Police officers and citizens who have gone through municipal court and would rather do community service than pay fines are given $10 an hour credit for work within the project. The police department now has an application for interested individuals, and will also chart times, locations, and quality of work provided to determine who can stay in the program.
"They have to have transportation, they have to have a positive attitude, and they have to be sober when they show up," Haulmark said. "Other than that, we'll take anybody."
Haulmark called the project mutually beneficial to all parties involved. Those involved in the justice system can work amongst officers in a non-enforcement setting and give back to the community. Property owners can have their needs addressed. In the end, the community looks better.
"It's a win-win because it helps both parties," said Commissioner Barb Esfeld. "You said they can give back to the community. That's what I hear a lot from my Oxford House friends. They want to give back to the community they took from."
Anyone in need of community service hours is encouraged to call city hall for more information.