Support Services

The Support Services Division is comprised of Communications, Systems Management, and Records under the direction of Kathy McGaughey. These sections are responsible for record keeping, computer entry, communications, and computer maintenance. Each section has certain responsibilities that need to be fulfilled to ensure that all employees have the resources available to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of our great community.

Director Kathy McGaughey

Communications

The Communications Section is comprised of civilian personnel and includes 4 Supervisors and 10 Communicators. The department maintains 24-hour coverage and personnel are divided into 4 teams working permanent shifts. The Communications Section currently has 6 radio consoles that have the capability of monitoring 8 frequencies. The Communicators are responsible for dispatching calls for service and monitoring the emergency personnel actions for 9 different agencies/departments in Finney County, with the help of an AS/400 computer system and a CAD program.

The Communications Section is also responsible for answering the five E911 emergency lines in an effort to provide the quickest and best service to the community. These responsibilities keep the Communicators busy. In 2008, employees answered (15,370) 911 calls and processed over 46,750 activities for the Garden City Police Department and the Finney County Sheriffs Office.

Records

The Records Section is comprised of 1 supervisor, 8 full-time and 1 part-time Records Clerks. These civilian employees work Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Records Clerks are responsible for maintaining records, taking messages, disseminating reports to 2 courts, answering administrative phone lines and assisting citizens who come to the Law Enforcement Center.

These employees play a very important role in the day-to-day operation of the department. The data entry in the computer could make the difference when providing essential information to the officers on the street in the performance of their duties. Records personnel and Communicators use teamwork to ensure that calls for service get answered in a timely manner. In 2008, over 3,890 offense reports, 2,680 adult arrest reports, 760 juvenile arrest reports, 3,600 citations, 975 warrants, and 1,050 accident reports were entered into our computer system's data base.

The department’s System Manager is Marsha Rupp.  She is responsible for maintaining the department’s technical equipment to include personal computers, laptops and mobile equipment, computer installation and software upgrades.