By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Law enforcement executed a pair of search warrants within Great Bend city limits earlier this month that resulted in the seizure of three pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 100 fentanyl tablets and marijuana. Drug arrests are made weekly throughout Barton County.
Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark said his department continues to fight the ongoing war on drugs.
"The drug issue is always going to be there," said Haulmark. "You cut off the head of the snake, somebody else is going to fill that void. I don't know that the issue is increasing, but when you have people that unfortunately have that addiction, they're going to find a way to fill their need. We try to be as aggressive as we can."
A handful of Great Bend Police officers will attend the 2024 Kansas Narcotics Officer’s Association Conference in Wichita that starts next Monday. The conference will include breakout sessions regarding highway interdiction enforcement, undercover operations, marijuana legalization issues and fentanyl death investigations.
Haulmark said officers are more careful with fentanyl exposure.
"We're certainly wearing gloves a whole lot more," said Haulmark. "All of our officers have been issued Narcan. If they were to be exposed to that, they're able to come back from that. If we run into somebody in the field, we'd be able to use that as well."
To assist with drug air sniffs, the Great Bend Police Department has one K-9 officer, named Nico. GBPD will be looking for a new handler for Nico soon. The department will also be look to acquire an additional K-9 officer after Menta and her handler transferred to the Barton County Sheriff’s Office.