As KPOA is heading into the busy season. I want to update you on some things we have been working on to support Kansas Law Enforcement.  We have engaged in talks and correspondence with Ed Klump, our association's lobbyist about several bills and proposals that will need our support or opposition.  We’ve already weighed in on proposals like mandatory towing of vehicles for registration violations, and to mandate training of dispatchers in T-CPR.  We rely heavily on Ed’s guidance and the input we receive from you to take the proper stand for Kansas Law Enforcement.  We have also worked closely with the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, the Kansas Sheriff Association, Kansas COPS, state agencies, and others to create or organize a foundation to provide services and support for agencies and families of fallen officers similar to the Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation.  Stay tuned for more information about this effort.

Members of the executive committee of the KPOA recently met and trained several District Governors on their responsibilities and the benefits of the KPOA.  Please reach out to them with questions, ideas, or concerns.  Our Governors are a great group dedicated to improving Kansas Law Enforcement.  Additionally, we are actively vetting training for our Fall Conference in September and are excited about the potential line-up. 

Next week we will provide more information about the training conference and legislative matters, including continued discussions with legislatures to provide a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for KPERS retirees and modifications to or replacement of KPERS III.  We will meet with Legislators at the Legislative Conference in Topeka on January 28th.  Please make arrangements to attend, and I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Lt. Tim Greenwood
Hays Police Department
KPOA President

Good morning,

I hope you all enjoyed the conference as much as I did.  The executive board did an excellent job with Amy Osburn at the helm in delivering quality training and excellent opportunities to network at the annual conference.  As we work our way through the feedback we received from the other attendees, we are finding most are of the same opinion.  We will use this feedback to bring the 2025 KPOA Conference back to the same location, and I’m confident it will be just as good if not better than this year’s.  So, I encourage you to start planning now on returning.  We also ask that you bring a new face to the conference.  Not only is it a great opportunity for inexpensive, quality training, but it is the relationships developed at these events that help many of us navigate our careers.  Keep the tradition going by introducing someone new to the KPOA.

As the new President, I want to assure you that the executive board will also continue to represent our profession in the KS Legislature.  Chief Ed Klump (Ret.) does an excellent job speaking on our behalf and keeping us informed about new legislation.  The executive board also continues to work together to provide testimony whenever needed.  We are always looking for assistance with this.  If you enjoy public speaking and/or have a current topic you are passionate about, please reach out to us.  We would love the extra help.

Currently, our KPOA Administrator, Jeff Piper is on a much-needed vacation.  When he returns, I will meet with him, and we will work through the District Governorships.  Many districts are set, but there are still a few with some uncertainty.  We will shore those up, and as promised, I will call those affected by any modifications.  If you are interested in being a district governor, please email me; there are still some areas that need representation.

Lastly, I ask that you to continue to support the KPOA.  Encourage your department head to buy memberships for your entire department and thank him or her if they already do.  Talk with the new officer just starting out and explain the benefits of membership.  The KPOA has been around since 1916 and has over 3,200 members.  We’ve weathered countless changes and challenges, and we continue to be an organization of professionals solving problems together.  Whether this is your first year in law enforcement, or your 45th, you have something to contribute, and we want to hear from you.  That is how we get better.

Thank you and stay safe,

Tim Greenwood
President
Kansas Peace Officer Association
tgreenwood@haysusa.com

This year's conference planning is underway. The exact schedule will be posted soon but it will be great! 

In addition to the conference, we are having a golf tournament and the yearly shooting competition on Sunday, Sept. 8th to coincide with the conference. If you play golf or shoot, please feel free to join us with a team. If you don't do either but want to help in any fashion, we will not turn down assistance of any type.

We hope to see everyone in September. 

Welcome to 2024!

I pray all of you were safe and healthy during this past holiday season. With this crazy weather, please drive safe, and don't forget to warm yourself up as well as everyone around you.

The first week of January brings the new legislative season. This is an important time for KPOA and involves each and every law enforcement officer in Kansas. Decisions are made in Topeka that directly influence your jobs in many ways. I encourage you to get involved and stay informed. I will be sending out emails periodically with updates and you can also watch hearings online.

Next week, the three associations (KPOA, KSA, & KACP) will deliver a State of Law Enforcement Address which will then be followed by the Legislative Reception on January 23rd. Please try to attend. It is open to all KPOA members and it is an opportunity to directly interact with your legislative representatives. 

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at any point.

Cheers to the New Year!

Amy Osburn

Where where has the year gone. It has only been 2 months since the conference. 

For all of you working during this Thanksgiving weekend, please be safe and warm. It appears there is going to be snow in much of Kansas which will create a lot of extra work for everyone on the streets.

Many people struggle this time of year. Whether it is the holidays or the extra long periods of darkness, it is our responsibility to watch out and take of each other.  

If you find that you are struggling and need to talk with someone, here are some great options for first responders:

COPLINE is available 24/7 at 800-267-5463.

Veterans Crisis Line:  800-273-8255 - Press 1

Suicide Prevention Lifeline:  800-273-TALK

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  988

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving

Amy

This is a friendly reminder, the training year ends on June 30th. If you find yourself short on some hours, there quite a few opportunities both online and in person through KLETC. Please review the KLETC Statewide Calendar for more information: https://kletc.org/calendar  

Just in case you missed it, we are well into the training year for 2023, in fact, we are almost in the last quarter of it. With that in mind, please review the training opportunities KPOA is hosting in your area. 

For each KPOA hosted event, all members are free. However, if you want to attend the training and you are not a member, the fee is simply the cost of your membership.

One last thing, if you have an idea for training you would like to see in your area, please reach out and let me know. My main goal is to provide quality training opportunities throughout the state.

I want to take a moment this week and wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. Many of us express our thankfulness during this time of year and yet other’s often express their gratitude. So what is the difference between the two? Thankfulness is an emotion of feeling pleased whereas Gratefulness is showing appreciation for something done or received. These are both are key elements in developing resiliency.

Studies have shown that creating a practice of gratitude can improve your sleep quality, develop emotional regulation, and reduce stress; burnout; and symptoms of PTSD. So how do you develop a gratitude practice? Simple really. Throughout each day, make a conscious effort to name five things you are grateful for. Perhaps you are grateful for the beautiful sunrise you saw while you were on patrol. Maybe you were thanked by a citizen during your shift for something you did. Do not overlook all of the simple things that occur each and every day, even on a really rough day. First responders often see people at their worst but they also see and experience the most amazing moments as well. Do not forget to acknowledge and be grateful for these moments.

I am truly thankful and grateful for each and every one of you and stay safe!!

Amy

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who attended and supported the 2022 KPOA conference this year in Manhattan.

I also want to thank the past board who did an exceptional job putting together a conference on "Taking Investigations to the Next Level." Kansas has exceptional law enforcement officers who are clearly professionals that rival those from around the country.

One of our goals for the 2022 - 2023 year is to increase valuable training across the state. In order to do this, we are asking for every member's opinion on what type of training would be beneficial in your career, regardless of the rank or years of service. Please email me or your District Governor with any ideas. We value each and every member and want to continue to strengthen Kansas Law Enforcement.

Amy

I hope everyone had a great holiday season with your family and friends.  I also want to wish everyone a Happy New Year for 2022 and hope it is a positive, exciting, and wonderful new year for law enforcement.

I want to say Thank You to all of our law enforcement as we celebrate Law Enforcement Appreciation Day!  I am sincerely grateful and proud to be part of our law enforcement community to stand next to so many dedicated and honorable individuals who put their life on the line every day.  For those who have to go out at all hours of the day and night being away from their family and loved ones.  For those who pay the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, thank you for all you do.  Kansas is a great place to live and the communities are a better place due to law enforcement serving them.