Senator Jerry Moran, in a Thursday morning visit to Hutchinson, announced a $408,000 federal grant to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office for technology upgrades in the department.
Moran told of his work on a senate committee, which funds the U.S. Justice Department, and how he worked with New Hampshire’s Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen who chairs the committee (Moran is ranking Republican on the committee) in a bi-partisan effort to provide grants for law enforcement agencies across the nation including Hutchinson.
Moran complimented Reno County Sheriff Darrian Campbell for successfully completing the grant application that seeks federal dollars. A similar grant was made in 2022 to the Hutchinson Police Department.
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Campbell gave kudos to his staff at the Sheriff’s office for their efforts in writing the grant and noted the funds will be utilized to fulfill two important upgrades within the department.
“A portion of the grant funds earmarked for radio upgrades will satisfy federal mandates,” Campbell said. “Also, the Sheriff’s Office will purchase a body scanner capable of detecting literally anything on an inmate’s body, including contraband.”
Campbell said the technology upgrades will assist in coordinating with area law enforcement agencies on matters of mutual concern.
Moran pointed out that the federal dollars will alleviate the county commission’s budget in providing funds for the technology upgrades. Commissioners in attendance nodded in appreciation when the Senator made those remarks.
Moran’s visit to Hutchinson was part of a week-long barnstorming tour that included stops in Manhattan, Liberal, Elkhart, Johnson City, Syracuse, Lakin, Garden City, Jetmore, Ness City and McPherson in advance of the Senator’s stop in Hutchinson. Additional stops for the week include Wichita for a Thursday afternoon meeting with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs who is visiting the Air Capital and Fort Riley to participate in a change of command.
On several of the stops, Moran conducted town hall meetings where his constituents voiced a wide range of concerns.
“Many were talking about the wheat harvest,” Moran said. “Some reported better than expected yields and others said the opposite.”
Some expressed concerns regarding issues on the nation’s southern border and there was concern about the survival of rural hospitals.
“Also, a number of people inquired about the postal service, including slow delivery in rural areas,” Moran said. “On the other hand, there was optimism voiced as a number of people seemed hopeful about the state’s future in part due to increased economic activity.”
Moran, who was first elected to Congress in 1996, is no stranger to Hutchinson having visited the city many times during his 27-year career in Washington. He was accompanied by Mike Zamrzla, his office’s long-time deputy state director, who is also a frequent visitor to Hutchinson.
Following hundreds of miles of driving with more to go before returning to the nation’s capital, Kansas’ senior United States Senator reconfirmed his thoughts on the state he serves.
“I love rural America,” Moran concluded before getting back on the road for a quick trip to Wichita for another meeting.
