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Crawford County sheriff reports DUI enforcement, K9 unit plans and proposes $32,520 jail fire-control upgrade
Summary
Sheriff Billy Tomasi briefed the commission on a multi-agency saturation patrol that produced traffic enforcement results, thanked a corporate donor for K9 program support and moved to fund a $32,520 fire-control box for the jail, proposing use of ARPA interest; vote outcome was not recorded in the transcript.
Sheriff Billy Tomasi told the Crawford County Commission that a multi‑agency saturation patrol over St. Patrick’s Day weekend produced substantial traffic enforcement results and described steps the department is taking to expand canine and safety capacity.
Tomasi said Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburg Police Department and other local agencies joined county deputies for a four‑to‑six‑hour operation. “They did about 60 traffic stops. They had three DUIs, six driver’s tests for SFSTs, two warrant arrests, one drug arrest, three drug‑related incidents, 47 citations issued and 109 warnings,” Tomasi said. He said the KHP brought a command post and asked people suspected of DUI to come to the sheriff’s office for testing.
Why it matters: the report shows regional law‑enforcement coordination on impaired‑driving enforcement tied to a holiday weekend and signals the sheriff’s office is using short, targeted patrols to concentrate enforcement.
Tomasi also updated the commission on the sheriff’s office K‑9 program. He said a corporate sponsor, Diamond Pet Food, donated money toward the vehicle setup and training; the department expects the dog to complete training in August and to be on patrol in September. Tomasi named Deputy Swartz as the anticipated handler and said the department will evaluate which shepherd best fits the handler during training.
On equipment and facility safety, a county official (name not specified in the record) moved to fund a new fire‑protection control box for the jail at $32,520 and proposed paying from ARPA interest. The speaker said Siemens will provide the control system and an electrician will be contracted for installation. The motion was seconded; the transcript does not record a vote or final outcome.
Discussion and clarifications: Tomasi said 12 deputies assisted during the saturation patrol and described other enforcement activity (vehicle searches, a foot pursuit, vehicle inspections). He said the KHP enforcement was timed for DUI enforcement and that such saturation patrols occur a few times a year. The funding motion for the fire‑control box included two suggested funding sources (operating reserves or ARPA interest); the mover asked the commission to use ARPA interest. The transcript does not record which account the county ultimately charged or whether the motion passed.
Ending: Tomasi said he would keep the commission updated about the K‑9 training and any additional staffing or budget implications.
