Each month, Eagle Radio in Great Bend will recognize groups or individuals that make a big impact on our community. This Appreciation Month is highlighting the Great Bend Police Department.
By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Growing up in Garden City, Gary Davis was like many young boys who
idolized police officers and pretended to be a cop when he was playing. As he
got older, Davis decided against becoming a police officer because they did not
make much money.
Thoughts of a law enforcement career were put off but not for long. Going to
college in Garden City, Davis started working at a gas station in 1988 making
$10 an hour.
“My dad, when he was in his 50s, had worked at a tire store for over 30 years
but was laid off when it closed down,” said Davis. “That kind of scared me and
made me think. I did not want to be in my 50s and have to find a new job.”
Davis decided to take a deeper look into law enforcement and applied at few
places.
“I still thought about not doing it, because I was making good money at the
time at the gas station,” said Davis.
The police department in Oakley, Kansas was the first to call Davis offering a
job. As a newlywed with a daughter at the time, Davis talked it over with his
wife.
“My wife is the one that actually pushed me to get into law enforcement,” Davis
said. “She told me that I always wanted to give it a try. If I did not like it,
I could always go back and do something else.”
Davis accepted the position in Oakley and started his training. He noted the most challenging thing of becoming a police officer was learning all
the laws and the amount of paperwork that was needed for reports. The part that
came the easiest to Davis was relating to people.
“When you go to calls, people are angry most of the time,” said Davis. “It
really helps if you can calm the situation down.”
Davis’ parents always taught him to treat everybody, no matter their race or if
they are rich, the way you want to be treated.
“I try to put myself in their situation and think how I would like to be
handled,” said Davis. “Maybe they have family, friends or kids around. It is
really pretty delicate.”
After three years in Oakley, Davis accepted a job with the Great Bend Police
Department and has been in Great Bend the last 30 years, currently serving a sergeant.
“When we get really busy, I still have to handle calls and go on the street,”
Davis said. “Most of the time, I am checking my officers, reports and making
sure officers are doing things the way they need to be done. When we get slammed, I will take any calls that come in.”
Early in Davis’ career, police officers were handwriting all their reports.
Technology has alleviated much of that pain by allowing officers to change or
add anything with the use of computers.
“Spellcheck is amazing,” Davis said. “I am a guy and I have never been good
with spelling, English or grammar. It is not that the report has to be perfect
because the courts and everyone understands that you are a human being, but I
always want to look professional. I am just picky about that stuff.”
As select law enforcement groups across the country, mostly in larger cities,
have seen a negative light shown on them, Davis says he thanks God every day
that he works in Great Bend.
“If I was in the big cities where the riots were going on last summer, I have
been doing this long enough that I would have resigned,” said Davis. “Here in Great
Bend, we have good public relations. I believe that if a criminal got the jump
on me, a good citizen in Great Bend would help me out.”
Getting the “jump” on Davis is not going to be easy as the sergeant works out
an hour and a half each day.
“A few years ago, I decided it was not fair that God did not make me Superman,”
said Davis. “He made human. So I realized these criminals stay young but I keep
getting older. I started working out to stay fit.”
As a supervisor, Davis also wanted to set a good example for his patrolmen to
work out. Davis built his own shop house on his property and the top of the
shop has an exercise room. He wakes up every day at 5:30 a.m. and lifts weights
for about an hour. Davis then spends time working on cardio by using the elliptical,
treadmill or taking his dogs for a run.
“If I decide I’m going to take the dogs for a run, they are waiting for me the
minute I come downstairs,” said Davis. “They are almost like a kid where they
are disappointed if you don’t go.”
Making the switch from pumping gas in Garden City making $10 an hour to police work earning $5.50 per hour in Oakley, Davis does not
regret his decision one moment.
“Now 33 years later, I have really enjoyed it and I have never worried about
getting laid off.”
Read the previous Appreciation Month stories by clicking HERE.