Wednesday, June 17, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
New officers added to squad to begin patrol next January
By Jorry Jackson
Kansan staff writer
The KU Office of Public Safety has begun hiring new officers for next semester.
In addition to hiring four or five additional patrol officers, the office also will hire two more dispatch and communications operators.
"We are hoping to have our new officers hit the street no later than January of next year," Mailen said.
Sgt. Troy Malen, the newly appointed supervisor of the office's community education and media unit, said that it would be a while before the new officers began patrolling.
The office is divided into three branches, including police, security and emergency communications. The office employs 28 University officers. Starting salary is $10.53 an hour.
"Before last year, the last time we hired new officers was 1991," he said. "It all just depends on whether or not we lose anybody."
Sgt. James E. Anguiano said that the hiring of new police officers was not a frequent occurrence.
Those individuals who have yet to receive Kansas law enforcement training will be sent to Hutchinson for police academy.
Many applications already have been taken, and interviews began last week. Any prospective candidate must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license, have never been convicted of a felony and have either a law enforcement certificate or have attended police academy.
After the new officers are hired, they will be required to complete three months of field-supervised training and will be paired up with an experienced officer for their first patrols, Anguiano said.
The office plans to have all new officers hired by the end of July, after which they will be placed on probation as police officer trainees for one year.
"The probation period is just designed for the trainees to prove they can perform the job satisfactorily." Anguiano said.
Anguiano said that being a good law enforcement officer required more than just being tough and good at handling a hectic schedule.
"A good police officer is dedicated to helping others, regardless of the situation," he said. "In order to make it in this line of work, more than anything else, you really have to feel you can help make a difference."
Maj. Chris Keary, left, and Sgt. Troy Mailen, right, stand by one of the University police cars. Keary was recently promoted to Assistant Director of the Office of Public Safety. Mailen has replaced him as the Media Unit Supervisor. Photo by Graham K. Johnson/KANSAN
University police get promotions
Both officers have history with campus
By Jorry Jackson Kansan staff writer
Maj. Chris Keary and Sgt. Troy Mailen go to work each morning at the University of Kansas Office of Public Safety, as they have for the past 11 years.
The KU Office of Public Safety has promoted both Keary and Mailen within its police division as a result of personnel changes.
In 1979, Keary, a Hays native, came
Since the beginning of June, however, they have each walked into new offices.
Keary, 36, was the sergeant supervising the community education and media unit for the office, a position he had held since February 1996. Since June 1, Keary has been the assistant director of public safety, the person in charge of the police division. Those are just two of many positions he has held in law enforcement.
to Lawrence to attend the University. Two years later, he applied for a part-time job as a communications operator/dispatcher with the KU police.
"At the time I just needed a part-time job for extra money," Keary said. "I didn't have any real long-term plans."
A year later, Keary took a full-time position as a communications operator/dispatcher and graduated in 1983 from the University with a bachelor of science degree in computer science.
Mailen's family has been part of the University community for some time.
Although his uncle was a Kansas highway patrolman, Keary said he had never thought much about following in his uncle's footsteps until 1987, when he applied for a police officer position at the University.
"I spent some time hunting for a good job in the computer science field, but my experiences at KU and in the Lawrence community were always in the back of my mind." Keary said.
That same year, Keary attended the police academy in Hutchinson, where he met Mailen. They were roommates at the academy. Both men were tight-lined about the experience.
Maillen, 36, was born in Ellsworth but grew up in Lawrence.
His father works in the instrumentation shop at facilities operations, his mother works at Watkins Memorial Health Center and his sister works with the KU geological survey.
After serving five years in the Air Force, Mallen applied for a job as a campus security officer at the University in September of 1986.
"I was somewhat interested in the job, but my intention was to use security as a foot in the door for law enforcement." Mailen said.
When Mailen applied for a police officer position the following year, his path crossed with Keary's, and since then their lives have been somewhat parallel.
In early 1990, both Keary and Malien applied for sergeant positions with the KU police and were promptly promoted.
"There is never really a slow period in community education and media," Keary said. "There is always a project
Six years later, Keary was promoted to the position of sergeant supervising the community education and media unit. From that position, he was responsible for speaking to the press and the community on behalf of the KU police.
or something coming down to keep you busy and constantly on your toes."
June 1, Keary was promoted to the rank of major and selected from more than 100 applicants for the position of assistant director of public safety. This promotion makes the one-time dispatcher the new head of the police division of the KU Office of Public Safety.
As for Sgt. Mailen, he was promoted this month to the position of sergeant supervising the community education and media unit.
Both Keary and Malen are married, and each has two children.
Although both men said they had enjoyed their previous positions with the KU Office of Public Safety, they said they were looking forward to opportunities that would come with their promotions.
"From what I understand, the community education and media unit is good experience for officers who haven't worked a lot with reporters or with the community," Maailen said.
Keary agreed with Mailen about the benefits of the new promotions.
"The promotion means a lot," Keary said. "It's now my responsibility to see that the officers have the tools they need to serve the University and the community."
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CARDING DATES AND TIMES FOR NEW OR CURRENT FACULTY AND STAFF AND CURRENT STUDENTS:
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Mond day,Wednesday,or Friday (except July 3), Level 4,southeast entrance, Kansas Union.
Summer Orientation student groups only: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Level 4, southeast entrance Kansas Union.
Get carded this summer and beat the August rush.
Faculty and staff need to bring a photo ID and current KUID. A letter from the department requesting a KUID will be required for new employees.
Your photograph will be taken and your new KU Card issued in a matter of minutes. Students need to bring a photo ID, proof of enrollment and $10.
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