Menu
Pushing conceptual change: *Cindy Gillispie looks to promote change during the 2008 general election
Change is on the mind of Bourbon County Sheriff Deputy Cindy Gillispie. After working many years in law enforcement, Gillispie wants a change in not only her career, but also a change for the residents of Bourbon County.
"After 12 years in law enforcement," Gillispie said, "I know what has to be done. I know what needs to be changed. I know where we lack that needs to be filled. I know it will be my job to do that."
Gillispie, who is running for the office of sheriff in the upcoming election, said the sheriff is the highest elected officer in Bourbon County. Gillispie added when residents have a problem, often they will want to visit with the sheriff about it. The sheriff, she said, should be accessible to the residents of Bourbon County at all times. The sheriff is also in charge of conducting sheriff sales and tax sales. In addition he or she bears the responsibility of communicating with the county commissioners if the need arises.
Before Gillispie began her career as a sheriff deputy 12 years ago, she worked at the local police department for about three years. Before beginning a profession in law enforcement, she worked for a metal fabrication and production company, administering and overseeing product production and distribution. Prior to that, she was a buyer for a major 1,700-bed hospital. In this position she was charged with the supervision of 11 employees. In both of these positions, Gillispie said she learned various skills, which will aid her in carrying out the job of sheriff if elected.
During her law enforcement career, Gillispie has undergone many child-abuse training sessions. In addition, she went through eight weeks of training at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in October of 1995. She recertifies yearly for firearm and radar certifications.
If elected as sheriff, Gillispie said she intends to hire more deputies for the sheriff's department. If the county employed more deputies, those deputies could work nights making sure the county is protected around the clock, according to Gilispie
"I want to be pro-active," Gillispie said, "instead of reactive. We need to spend more time patrolling if we are going to discover crime as it is happening."
Gillispie said she would also schedule frequent meetings with her staff to ensure better communication among the deputies and the sheriff.
Other changes Gillispie would like to make, if elected. involve the correctional center. She said she would like to reinstate the work-release program. One of the reasons for this change, she said is because often when the head of the household is arrested and put in jail, the family loses much needed income. This causes the famiy to seek help from Social Services in order to make ends meet. With the work-release program, that person could still earn a living for his or her family. If work release were implemented in Bourbon County, Gillispie said qualifying inmates would have to be approved by a judge in order to be placed in the program. Non-violent offenders on charges such as non-support of a child, alcohol-related offenses and writing bad checks would be eligible for the program.
As a long-term goal, Gillispie said she would like to build a new jail. Adding she would look into funding which would enable the department to construct a new correctional facility without raising taxes.
"The future jail would be strategically designed for optimal protection of all involved," Gillispie said.
Gillispie said although she has some changes in mind for the correctional center and sheriff department, she has no intentions of changing existing programs which are working well. One such program is the current volunteer work program currently in operation at the correctional center.
When asked what makes her think she is the best person for the job of sheriff, Gillispie said she is ready to make the changes the county needs.
"I know that I'll do a good job as sheriff," she said. "I know we're ready for change, and I am ready to make some of those changes."