Photo by Ron Bishon
Canoeists begin race today
All in a day's work
Rick Trapp performs one of his frequent jobs as deputy by halting one lane of traffic during the investigation of an accident. Rick, a Lawrence Police Department deputy, said, "The one thing that bothers me quite a bit is that a lot of people assume I'm prejudiced just because I wear a uniform."
Those daring young men in their canoes? The residence and scholarship halls of the University of Kansas and Kansas State University will hold a "Great Canoe Race" from Manhattan to Lawrence this weekend.
Beginning at noon today, as many as 15 canoe teams from each school are expected to carry their canoes to the Kansas River and race the 97 winding miles to Lawrence. When they arrive the teams will carry the canoes again, this time to the finish line at Strong Hall.
The canoeist will have an overnight halt somewhere near St. Marys Friday night. Saturday morning the race will resume with the canoes departing in the same sequence in which they arrived.
Three persons must be in the boats at all times, with two men and one woman comprising a team. The loss of a life preserver or interfering with other canoes
Rookie's routine never dull
By JIM CZUPOR Kansan Staff Writer
Rick Trapp frantically searched the sheriff's office for his gun. It was missing from the drawer he had put it in, and you could tell by the way he looked at the smiling dispatcher, that he had an idea who hid it.
Despite the dispatcher's pleas of innocence, Rick led him around the room with a half-nelson until he confessed. He finally found his gun and let the dispatcher squirm loose.
"All right, you knothead," he yelled, "What did you do with my bullets?"
As rookie of the sheriff's office, such practical jokes aren't uncommon. Ever since he began working as a dispatcher a little over two years ago, Rick has been affectionately known as "the rookie."
Rick began working at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office as a dispatcher, but Sheriff Rex Johnson became so impressed with him, that as soon as he turned 21, he asked him to become a deputy.
"I was a senior at KU then," Rick says, "carrying 12 hours and working full time."
While Rick worked a rotating night shift, he was able to finish his senior requirements in three semesters. Right now only three hours of Spanish stand between
6 KANSAN
May 1
1970
him and his B.A. in political science.
Rick admits that he had a lot of trouble adjusting at first.
"I think becoming familiar with all the laws and learning to work them was the hardest thing to get used to," he said.
While Rick reloaded his gun, the dispatcher received a call from a young boy who thought he had found some marijuana. The message was given to Rick and he left the office to check out the boy's find.
As he walked to the house, he was greeted by some anxious children and parents who handed him a large grocery sack with contents that looked like alfalfa. Rick identified it as marijuana and the proud boy led him away to the spot where he had found the sack.
Back in the car, he said "You never know what to expect on this job, I guess that's why I like it. It's exciting, satisfying and never routine."
Rick then began his regular patrol of checking buildings and roads in the county and patrolling small neighboring towns. It seemed like it would be a normal, quiet Friday night until Rick's radio number broke the silence.
"One-eighteen," the radio said, and he reached down for the microphone. "Go ahead." The dispatcher then responded with information of an injury accident west of Lawrence on Highway 40. "Ten-four," he answered, "En-route."
A flick of a switch sent the red lights whirling and the siren
whining as Rick accelerated the car to 70 miles per hour. Swerving in and out of traffic, he increased his speed but cautiously approached each intersection.
At the scene of the accident, Rick deftly directed traffic, first stopping one lane of cars to allow the others through. Before long a Highway Patrol car arrived followed by two wreckers. Within half-an-hour, traffic had returned to normal.
"I think learning to communicate with the public is one of our main drawbacks," he said. "So much of what we do is unfamiliar to the public and they sometimes don't understand why we have to do certain things the way we do."
As he continued the patrol, Rick openly discussed some of the problems of today's law enforcement.
"Many people seem hostile or surprised at policemen and it's hard to explain to them that we're
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will constitute disqualification. The crews may change at any time and each team is allowed only two paddles.
The first 10 canoes to finish will receive points, the winner being determined by the points amassed. A travelling trophy
will be awarded to the winners, and the losers will provide refreshments for the winners.
Governor Robert Docking, KU Chancellor E. Laurence Chalmers and KSU President James A. McCain have been named honorary judges.
WE ARE ALL "A BLOODY GOOD BUNCH OF KILLERS"...I
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TODAY
3:30, 7:00, 9:30
Hoch Auditorium
TOMORROW
7:00 & 9:30
Admission $1.00 Appearing with "The War Game"
SUNDAY
3:30, 7:00, 9:30
Free l0c Lemonade With Purchase of a Giant
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