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International endeavor
By Darcy Gray - The Hutchinson News
Published: 03-19-20111
YODER - Police officials from the Republic of Armenia asked several
questions with the help of an interpreter as they watched a Sedgwick
County K-9 unit in action Thursday at the Kansas Law Enforcement
Training Center.
After Sedgwick County Sheriff's deputy Justin Crafton shouted a quick
order, Bullet, a German shepherd, quickly responded by putting his nose
to the ground, sniffing the area for evidence.
"The dog is given orders in a foreign language, but it typically only
responds to its trainer," Sedgwick County Sheriff Bob Hinshaw said,
explaining the K-9 training.
The Armenian officials are spending a week and a half in Kansas as part
of the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program, which pairs
states with other countries in an effort to share information and learn
from each other, according to Sharon Watson, public affairs director for
the Kansas Adjutant General's Office.
Kansas was previously partnered with Ukraine before teaming up with
Armenia in 2003, Watson said. Since then, Armenian officials have
visited Kansas many times, learning about law enforcement, medical
practices and education, and Kansas officials have also visited Armenia.
The five high-ranking Armenian police officials and two interpreters
visiting Kansas this week are focused on community policing, which they
plan to implement in Armenia, said Ed Pavey, director of the KLETC. The
group has already observed police operations in Kansas City, Kan.,
Overland Park and Wichita before spending about three days at the law
enforcement training center.
"Community policing is a philosophy - in simple terms it's police
working with the community to solve and address problems," Pavey said.
"They want to see if our strategies will fit there."
The technology in the U.S. "is amazing to us," Armenian Police Col.
Karen Mehrabyan said through an interpreter. The officials were
especially impressed with the 911 emergency operation centers, which
have not been established in Armenia, Mehrabyan said.
"We're very pleased to see all of this, but in order to implement what
we're seeing, we need financial resources," Mehrabyan said. "The United
States also has financial limitations in refurbishing technology, so you
can imagine how hard it would be for us."
Pavey said United States' tax system is different from Armenia's, where
budgets are created for the whole country and not locally among cities
or counties, which allows financial flexibility. Armenia, formerly part
of the Soviet Union, is still developing as a country, he said.
Equipment from the Hutchinson Police Department and the Reno County
Sheriff's Office was on display Thursday for the Armenian officials,
some of whom tried their hand at riding a Segway. The officials also
watched officers in training at the KLETC.
"This is a great benefit for both the U.S. and Armenia, because we've
established not just military but civilian partnerships," Watson said.
From: A. Papazian
By Darcy Gray - The Hutchinson News
Published: 03-19-20111
YODER - Police officials from the Republic of Armenia asked several
questions with the help of an interpreter as they watched a Sedgwick
County K-9 unit in action Thursday at the Kansas Law Enforcement
Training Center.
After Sedgwick County Sheriff's deputy Justin Crafton shouted a quick
order, Bullet, a German shepherd, quickly responded by putting his nose
to the ground, sniffing the area for evidence.
"The dog is given orders in a foreign language, but it typically only
responds to its trainer," Sedgwick County Sheriff Bob Hinshaw said,
explaining the K-9 training.
The Armenian officials are spending a week and a half in Kansas as part
of the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program, which pairs
states with other countries in an effort to share information and learn
from each other, according to Sharon Watson, public affairs director for
the Kansas Adjutant General's Office.
Kansas was previously partnered with Ukraine before teaming up with
Armenia in 2003, Watson said. Since then, Armenian officials have
visited Kansas many times, learning about law enforcement, medical
practices and education, and Kansas officials have also visited Armenia.
The five high-ranking Armenian police officials and two interpreters
visiting Kansas this week are focused on community policing, which they
plan to implement in Armenia, said Ed Pavey, director of the KLETC. The
group has already observed police operations in Kansas City, Kan.,
Overland Park and Wichita before spending about three days at the law
enforcement training center.
"Community policing is a philosophy - in simple terms it's police
working with the community to solve and address problems," Pavey said.
"They want to see if our strategies will fit there."
The technology in the U.S. "is amazing to us," Armenian Police Col.
Karen Mehrabyan said through an interpreter. The officials were
especially impressed with the 911 emergency operation centers, which
have not been established in Armenia, Mehrabyan said.
"We're very pleased to see all of this, but in order to implement what
we're seeing, we need financial resources," Mehrabyan said. "The United
States also has financial limitations in refurbishing technology, so you
can imagine how hard it would be for us."
Pavey said United States' tax system is different from Armenia's, where
budgets are created for the whole country and not locally among cities
or counties, which allows financial flexibility. Armenia, formerly part
of the Soviet Union, is still developing as a country, he said.
Equipment from the Hutchinson Police Department and the Reno County
Sheriff's Office was on display Thursday for the Armenian officials,
some of whom tried their hand at riding a Segway. The officials also
watched officers in training at the KLETC.
"This is a great benefit for both the U.S. and Armenia, because we've
established not just military but civilian partnerships," Watson said.
From: A. Papazian