LARNED — Larned Police Chief Charles “Chuck” Orth is hanging up his vest on July 16, to turn the reins over to the newly appointed Chief, Lance Duft, who is the current Police Captain. After 29 ½ years as the Larned City Chief of Police, Chuck remarked, “It’s time, and the Department will be in good hands with Lance (Duft), who has been with the department for about 24 years.”
“I’ve been in law enforcement my whole life,” he explained. Orth’s career in law enforcement spans many years, beginning when he was first hired on his 21st birthday as a police officer at Wichita State University in 1977. “In 1976 I was the 2nd student officer to be hired, and it was a part time position.” It was there that he met his wife, Darlene.
“I had decided I wanted to pursue a law enforcement career during my junior year in high school. Our family has a long history of law enforcement involvement, dating back to the Revolutionary War. I was influenced in that direction for a long time.”
After leaving Wichita, Orth was hired by the Great Bend Police Department in 1978 and worked there for 10 ½ years. “I was detective sergeant when I left that job to take the Undersheriff’s position with the Barton County Sheriff’s Office under Jim Daily, the then Barton County Sheriff. I know I wasn’t Jim’s first choice, but I learned a lot under his tutelage and appreciate the opportunity.” From there, Orth came to Larned where he was hired as the Chief of Police in December of 1993, by then City Manager Don Gaeddert and Mayor Jerry Larson.
“I would like to say I have really appreciated working with this city council and mayor, as well as all previous city councils, mayors, city managers and other city employees throughout the years. They’ve always treated me with the utmost respect and support. I would also like to say it’s been a real honor and privilege to have served here in Larned. It’s provided me with real opportunities and been a good place for my wife and I to have settled down and raise our family.”
Being in law enforcement requires hours of training. It never stops. Orth attended three levels of FBI supervisory courses during his years with the Great Bend Police Department. A multitude of training classes, periodic workshops, and experience on the job add up to what makes a good officer and administrator. “When I attended the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (police academy) in March 1978, it was five weeks long. Since that time, it’s been expanded to 14 weeks of training currently.”
Orth explained that in a town the size of Larned, the law enforcement staff does whatever is needed. It must perform a multitude of duties and be ready and trained to do them efficiently.
“It is difficult just to be an administrator here in Larned. In a department this size, one must be a “working” chief, where if it were just an administration job, one (in my position) might be able to be in this position longer. You have to respond to pick up vicious animals, enter into domestic disturbances and fights, investigate shopliftings, work death scenes, and things like that. You have to get out of the office and be physically active ... you have to do everything, because you can’t delegate every action; you have to get out and be physically able to do that. No doubt this job is geared for a younger person. It’s taken a physical toll on me personally. I was 37 when I got hired here.
“My wife, Darlene, got very sick in the fall. Thankfully, I had time built up, and was able to take off to take care of her. She’s doing much better now. Right now, we are just going to see how it (being retired) goes. Putting one’s full faith in government to provide you with retirement income and medical coverage is not a comforting feeling for me. But I want to be able to spend quality time with my wife. I have a lot of questions about retirement; with insurance and living costs, especially with the cost of living going up. To retire now is not particularly a good time, but is there ever a good time?”
Asked what changes he has seen in these years as Larned Chief, Chuck replied, “Back not so many years ago, in law enforcement, there were no computers, no cell phones; we had to use a pay phone to make our calls when security or anonymity were necessary. We carried ‘walkie-talkies’ and big old radio-like instruments. The first police car I drove at Wichita State University had a windup siren, and as it ran down, it made a slow, moaning noise. The teletype machine was the size of a large office desk. It was difficult to use, and slow to process. Technology was nowhere like it is today, instant answers, quick results. Basically, everything has sped up.”
Chuck commented that technology today is a vast improvement in effective police work, but it also is used by the criminal as well. They too have figured out ways to try to manipulate the technology.
“Staffing is a problem everywhere, and it’s just as true in law enforcement,” he said. “We don’t get the applications that we used to get. One of the problems is that in a rural area, the law enforcement officer is hired to do many jobs. Administration responsibilities are key, but the officer or administrator is hired to do it all. The person being hired used to come in for an interview and give his experience in the workplace, his referrals, and his qualifications. Today’s interview seems different. Generally, persons seeking a job today seem concerned about what the organization can do for them instead of what they can bring to the organization. We’ve been pretty fortunate in that we’ve been able to hire good, honest, and dependable people here at the LPD. I feel good about that and confident they’ll be able to carry the torch so to say.
“Our kids are all out of the nest. Jennifer, Elizabeth, Julie, Tammy, Michael, and Catherine are doing well. So, what do we have planned? At this point, I don’t know. I have three brothers and a sister we need to go see; and one of the brothers lives in Kansas and is alone. Also, I have been actively researching ancestors. In particular, I’ve researched back to my great-great-grandfather, James Edward Green, who was a bugler in the Civil War (North), as well as tracing back as far in certain lines to more than seven generations. It has been a big interest of mine.
“What are our plans once I retire? I really don’t have any, but one thing I can say is that we’re ready for retirement, and the department will be in good hands. I am not worried at all about that. It’s been a great experience, and I am leaving my position to a very capable successor who is working with an outstanding police force.”
