Jul 19, 2022

First time since 2018, Great Bend Police Dept. at full strength

Posted Jul 19, 2022 4:00 PM
Great Bend Police Department Officer Jonathan Parsons was introduced to the Great Bend City Council Monday, July 18, 2022.
Great Bend Police Department Officer Jonathan Parsons was introduced to the Great Bend City Council Monday, July 18, 2022.

By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post

For the first time since 2018, the Great Bend Police Department is at full strength.

When taking over as police chief in January 2021, Steve Haulmark mentioned one of his goals was to have a fully staffed department. A full 33 officers/detectives was met as Haulmark introduced the recent hiring of Officer Jonathan Parsons to the Great Bend City Council on Monday.

"Officer Parsons spent the majority of his career as an engineer, but in that role, he was also a dog handler and kennel master," said Haulmark. "So he is going to bring that expertise here and help us with our canine program."

Haulmark said Parsons retired from the United States Army after 20 years of service, and Parsons’ wife is originally from Great Bend.