The Great Bend Police Department and other law enforcement agencies have a message for all the bad guys out there – you are not wanted here.
 Great Bend police officers, Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents, Kansas State Parole Board representatives and an officer from the Ellinwood Police Department took part in the first-ever warrant sweep in Great Bend Monday. They wanted to clear up as many of the stack of 120 warrants on the books as possible.
Just in case, the Barton County Jail had extra jailers available, Barton County Communications had additional dispatchers on hand and the county attorney was notified should search warrants were needed.
It was truly a joint operation aimed at cleaning up the streets of Great Bend.
The City Council has made crime reduction a top priority and is taking the drug problem in the community very seriously. This sweep is likely the first of many steps taken by the GBPD towards this goal.
And, with new leadership in the form of incoming Police Chief Cliff Couch, there is a renewed energy in the department.
These two factors add up to one big headache for offenders.
As local cops and other officers start to join forces and cooperate more, woe be to the villains.
Dale Hogg