GPD

City of Galena announces Police Chief’s Retirement

The City of Galena would like to announce the retirement of Galena Police Chief Billy Joe Charles. Chief Charles will be closing out 26 years in law enforcement/corrections career of distinguished service on September 1, 2024. Chief Charles retired from the military after serving 11 years in the Army then another 12 years in the Missouri National Guard. Chief Charles has held positions as an Inventory Controller for Lozier Corporation, Platoon Sergeant with Labette Woman’s Correctional Camp, and a Jail Administrator of the Cherokee County Jail before becoming the Police Chief for the City of Galena in February of 2016.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Chief Charles for his dedication and years of service to not only his fellow officers, but the city as a whole.

“Chief Charles has dedicated a huge part of his life to public service and in my opinion, that is the most commendable attribute any person can carry. It’s been an honor to work alongside Chief, as he is a man of integrity, a team player, and a visionary. Thank you, Chief, for pouring your time and energy into bettering our community.” Mayor Ashley Groves.

“Working for the City of Galena has been an honor. When I was young, my grandfather was a Police Officer here. Seeing him in uniform and hearing stories of how he helped those in the community encouraged me to establish a goal to follow in his footsteps. I appreciate the Mayor, Council, co-workers, and community for their support while serving the city, allowing me to achieve this goal, and be able to retire as chief.” Chief Billy Joe Charles. The city wants to acknowledge Chief Charles’ leadership, celebrate his career, and wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement. In the coming weeks, the city will share details regarding the search process for the next Police Chief. Visit our website and/or Facebook page for more details and updates.

Click It or Ticket May 19 – June 2, 2024

Every day we make hundreds of choices. The easiest one should be wearing your seat belt. While it is a fact that seat belts save lives, many still make the choice to not buckle up. In the Click It or Ticket campaign, while all Kansas traffic laws will be enforced, the primary focus will be on the adult seat belt and child safety laws.

During Click It or Ticket, drivers will be met with extra enforcement by our agency. We will be on the lookout for the unrestrained drivers, passengers, and children traveling our roads. Your seat belt could be what saves you and those riding with you. Insist that everyone in the vehicle is retrained on every trip.

We also want people to know that in the interest of saving lives, The Galena Police Department is committed to ticketing and educating the violators of adult seat belt and child safety laws, as well as other traffic infractions because we want you to be as safe as possible on your travels.

Thanksgiving Safe Arrival

This Thanksgiving Holiday, make sure to buckle up, Kansans. If you don’t make occupant protection a habit now start a new tradition!

Beginning Saturday, November 18th through Sunday, Nov 26th, 2023 The Galena Police Department will join many other law enforcement agencies across the state, including the Kansas Highway Patrol, in the Kansas *THANKGIVING SAFE ARRIVAL traffic enforcement campaign. Although all Kansas Traffic Laws will be enforced, this extra provision will be actively enforcing our occupant protection laws.

The Galena Police Department will also provide education that serves as a reminder that BUCKLING UP SAVES LIVES.

Don’t be a turkey, buckle up, every trip, every time. Your friends and family are counting on you.

Crashes Can Happen Anywhere

Motorists may be surprised to learn that over half of the fatality and serious injury crashes occur on local roads with half of those crashes involving only a single vehicle. Rural roads have the most fatal crashes in Kansas despite accounting for only 40% of total state miles traveled. The Kansas Drive to Zero Coalition, supported by the Kansas Department of Transportation, and law enforcement agencies want to bring awareness to drivers who may think traveling on local roads comes with less risk.

According to Chief Charles, “Safe driving behaviors are the number one-way motorists can protect themselves and their occupants traveling anywhere.”

Driving too fast for conditions, distracted driving, impaired driving, and failure to properly use seatbelts and child restraint protection severely increase the severity of a crash. “What drivers need to know is nearly 86 percent of local road crashes take place in good weather conditions, and a majority of these are on straight and level roads so remember drive defensively, buckle up and phone down- every trip, every time.” Said Chief Charles.

For more information on local roads and other safe driving programs visit https://kansasdrivetozero.com.

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You Drink. You Drive. You Lose- is Just Ahead

Drivers are advised that during the period of August 19 through Labor Day, September 4, The Galena Police Department will join other police agencies across Kansas in a crackdown aimed at removing impaired drivers from the roadways during You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.

It is illegal to drive while impaired, yet one person is killed in a drunk driving crash every 52 minutes in the United States. Just one drink before driving can put you and others in danger, because alcohol impairs thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination.

Driving after consuming alcohol or any other potentially impairing substance is a choice you make. The You Drink. You Drive. You Lose enforcement campaign is intended to remind drivers to take a moment to consider how it would be to begin every day with the memory of your decision if it resulted in injury or death. If you are driving impaired, you are not only more likely to crash, but that crash is much more likely to cause serious injury or death. Think about your family, your friends, your coworkers, neighbors. Always wear your seat belt it’s your best defense against impaired drivers. Every trip, every time.

You can count on this agency to vigorously enforce impaired driving and other traffic laws, not just during this enforcement campaign but all through the year in order to save lives.

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Overdose Rescue Kit

The Galena Police Department has installed a NALOXBOX (Overdose Rescue Kit) in the Municipal Building. This box is located next to the water fountain near the main entrance of the building.

This box was provided by DCCCA and NALOXBOX in an effort to help prevent accidental overdose and help save life’s within our community.

Suspect In Custody Following Tuesday Night Shooting Death of Riverton Man

Just before 9:00pm on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, emergency personnel were dispatched to a shooting in the 800 block of Columbus Street in Galena.

Cherokee County Emergency Medical Personnel attempted to revive the victim but were unsuccessful.

Levi Porter, age 27, of Riverton, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cherokee County Deputy Coroner.

Billy Barker, 49, of Galena, was arrested at the scene and transported to the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of 2nd Degree Murder.

Formal charges have not yet been filed.

The investigation is ongoing and being conducted by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Galena Police Department.

You Drink. You Drive. You Lose- is Just Ahead

Drivers are advised that during the period of August 20 through Labor Day, September 7, The Galena Police Department will join other police agencies across Kansas in a crackdown aimed at removing impaired drivers from the roadways during You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.

Driving after consuming alcohol or any other potentially impairing substance is a choice you make. According to Chief Charles, The You Drink. You Drive. You Lose enforcement campaign is intended to remind drivers to take a moment to consider how it would be to begin every day with the memory of your decision if it resulted in injury or death. If you are driving impaired, you are not only more likely to crash, but that crash is much more likely to cause serious injury or death. Think about your family, your friends, your coworkers, and neighbors. Also always wear your seat belt, it’s your best defense against impaired drivers. Every trip, every time.

You can count on this agency to vigorously enforce impaired driving and other traffic laws, not just during this enforcement campaign but all through the year in order to save lives.

Independence Day (4th of July)

As the 4th of July approaches people are starting to ask about the city ordnance on fire works with in the City Limits.

Fireworks may be discharged between the hours of 9:00 am through 10:30 pm on July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. On July 4th they can be discharged between the hours of 9:00 am and ending at midnight.

BOTTLE ROCKETS PROHIBITED. Bottle rockets and other similar self-propelled firework or fireworks devices consisting of a tube and attached guiding stock or rod shall not be sold or discharged in the city.

DISCHARGE ON STREETS AND PUBLIC PROPERTY PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge, ignite or fire any fireworks upon any public street, alley or avenue or in any park or public place within the city.

THROWING PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, cast or propel fireworks of any kind in the direction of or into the path of any animal, person or group of persons, or from, in the direction of or into any vehicle of any kind.

Toys for Kids

On November 26, 2021, members of the Galena Police Department, Galena Fire Department and the City Clerks office participated in a Boot Block at 7^th and Main Street in Galena to raise money for the annual Toys for Kids program. During the Boot Block we were able to collect over $2900.00 for this program.

Members of the City Clerks office, the City Court, and the Public Works Department used this money to buy toys for the Toys for Kids Program.

On December 14, 2021, Santa visited the Spring Grove School to pass out toys for each child enrolled.

We would like to thank the community their support and donating to help make this another successful year for the program.