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After serving more than a year as interim chief, Gary Myers is now the top law enforcement officer at the Pratt Police Department.
Myers was sworn in during a short ceremony Tuesday afternoon in the Pratt City Commission chambers.
Myers has already been working on adding new equipment to the department. Two additions will be complete and ready to use within the next five days.
At the urging of Pratt City Commissioner Vic Graf the department is installing video cameras in the police cruisers on Friday, Jan 20. The cameras will provide officers with a tool to record traffic stops that can be used as evidence if necessary, Myers said.
The system contains a GPS system that allows Myers to access the program and see where officers are at any given moment. If a person is concerned that officers are not patrolling a neighborhood, Myers can access the system and enter a specific day and time that will show up as a red line on a map proving when and where a unit was at any given time.
The system also allows Myers to program phones so that every time a patrol car goes through a neighborhood it will send a text message or call a persons phone to let them know an officer is in the area. It can also send video evidence to the city attorney through e-mail.
“I’m really excited to have that system in operation,” Myers said. “We’ll be the first one in state with this high tech capability”
Information in the camera system will be automatically recorded to the department server and to on off-site storage area as well.
Another new tool for officers is tasers. Officers will go through taser training Monday Jan. 23 with Pratt County Sheriff Sgt. Jimmy White. After the session, 12 officers will receive tasers and be authorized to use them if necessary.
Myers has authorized officers taking the training to be tased as part of the process unless they have a preexisting condition that would make it unsafe.
“Since they (officers) will deploy the taser, they will know what it is like,” Myers said.
As he takes office Myers also wants the police department to become more interactive with the public, Myers said.
He wants to educate the public about the department services to help the public build faith in the department. He said he would be available to communicate directly to the public.
After serving more than a year as interim chief, Gary Myers is now the top law enforcement officer at the Pratt Police Department.
Myers was sworn in during a short ceremony Tuesday afternoon in the Pratt City Commission chambers.
Myers has already been working on adding new equipment to the department. Two additions will be complete and ready to use within the next five days.
At the urging of Pratt City Commissioner Vic Graf the department is installing video cameras in the police cruisers on Friday, Jan 20. The cameras will provide officers with a tool to record traffic stops that can be used as evidence if necessary, Myers said.
The system contains a GPS system that allows Myers to access the program and see where officers are at any given moment. If a person is concerned that officers are not patrolling a neighborhood, Myers can access the system and enter a specific day and time that will show up as a red line on a map proving when and where a unit was at any given time.
The system also allows Myers to program phones so that every time a patrol car goes through a neighborhood it will send a text message or call a persons phone to let them know an officer is in the area. It can also send video evidence to the city attorney through e-mail.
“I’m really excited to have that system in operation,” Myers said. “We’ll be the first one in state with this high tech capability”
Information in the camera system will be automatically recorded to the department server and to on off-site storage area as well.
Another new tool for officers is tasers. Officers will go through taser training Monday Jan. 23 with Pratt County Sheriff Sgt. Jimmy White. After the session, 12 officers will receive tasers and be authorized to use them if necessary.
Myers has authorized officers taking the training to be tased as part of the process unless they have a preexisting condition that would make it unsafe.
“Since they (officers) will deploy the taser, they will know what it is like,” Myers said.
As he takes office Myers also wants the police department to become more interactive with the public, Myers said.
He wants to educate the public about the department services to help the public build faith in the department. He said he would be available to communicate directly to the public.
“I’m very open to anyone who wants to talk to me at any time,” Myers said.
To that end Myers has two specific goals: reduce crime and the perception of crime through community policing; reduce traffic complaints by increasing traffic enforcement and visibility.
Through these goals, the department will gain the confidence and support of the city commission, city manager and citizens.
Myers began his law enforcement career when he joined the McPherson Police Department in 1975. Three years later he joined the McPherson Sheriff’s Office in 1978 and rose from the rank of deputy to patrol sergeant and finally to captain.
He left the department in April 1992 with the intention of becoming a private investigator and providing uniformed security but that venture proved to be cost prohibitive at the time.
He learned of an opening in the Pratt Police Department and in October 1992 he joined the force. He rose through the ranks from patrol officer to sergeant to patrol lieutenant in 1995. Former Police Chief Steve Holmes promoted to assistant chief in 2005. Holmes had to resign his position for health reasons in September 2010 and Myers assumed the duties of the interim police chief then became the active interim chief on Jan. 1, 2011.
During that time the question of consolidating the police and sheriff’s operations into one unit was considered but the timing was not right for that, said Pratt City Manager Dave Howard.
After the interview process, Howard appointed Myers as police chief and he was sworn in Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Myers has been married to Mary since 1982 and they have three daughters: Christine Bruton, Emmy Parsons and Kyra Myers and they have five grandchildren.
