The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2025 #3: 10-16-24

                          VOLUME 2025           OCOTBER 16         NUMBER 03

President Greg McCune welcomed everyone on this brisk morning, that was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  

ACHES & PAINS: Start each day with a grateful heart, be thankful for all you have, always be kind to those less fortunate.  

PROGRAM: Mike Fincham introduced our guest speaker this morning, Sargeant Jared Hayes, Riley County Police Department Service Dog Supervisor.  Sgt Hayes spoke to us this morning about his experience as a service dog handler.

The Canine Teams are utilized to aid and assist all divisions of the Riley County Police Department. The Department utilizes trained and certified canine teams in an effort to detect and deter the introduction and use of illegal drugs within the Department's jurisdiction and to locate certain individuals. The Canine Teams are assigned to and supervised by the Patrol Division and are generally available on a 24-hour, on-call basis. School administrators may request narcotic detector dog sniffs through their assigned School Resource Officer or directly to the Department as well.  Making a commitment to the Canine Unit requires a minimum of 2 years employment at Riley County Police Department as well as a willingness to train regularly. Officers are also required to complete certification training.

As a sergeant with the Riley County Police Department his time as a K-9 handler was basically a “second marriage” for him.  Sgt. Hayes entering his third year in the position, spent a decade working alongside two German shepherds. He worked with Kato for six years until his retirement and death in 2016, then with Monster from 2017 to 2020.

He said Kato died only three months following the dog’s departure from work.

“My wife will tell you that I’m not much of a crier, but that’ll get you,” Hayes said. “They go to work with you, they’re at home with you, so it’s basically a second marriage. You end up treating it that way because you’re responsible for that dog, and that dog depends on you, and ultimately, you depend on that dog.  Kato had a great career, and when it was time for him to retire, that was hard. Then the fact that he didn’t last very long after that was really difficult. I think the loss of the partnership and then the loss of Kato completely was extremely difficult and sad.”

Monster, an 8-year-old RCPD K-9 retired after seven years of service because of medical issues.  Monster, a Belgian Malinois worked under Sgt. Hayes before being picked up by Officer Jeff Childs of JCPD when the dog was 3 years old.  The deal is, Monster will stay with Childs until he is able to get another dog to work with and then he’ll be going back to Hayes to live his best life.

Riley County Police Department (RCPD) recently introduced the newest member of their team. Kyra is a highly trained Belgian Malinois K9. She specializes in tracking and narcotics detection.

Her first case was completed successfully on July 17th, 2024. Kyra and her handler, Officer Umble, are prepared and ready to take on more cases that arise in the future. RCPD said they are confident that Kyra will be an asset to the team.

Although Hayes wanted to join a police department sooner rather than later, the military gifted him the opportunity to see the world. In addition to being stationed at U.S. Forts Benning, Hood and Riley, he deployed to Korea, Bosnia, Kuwait and Iraq over his 9-year Army career.  The traveling showed new perspectives not seen before.  “It definitely opens your eyes to everything that goes on in the world, not just in your community, but everything outside to have a little bit more knowledge of what different cultures do and how they act on a daily basis.”   

Hayes said the exposure aided him in his job as a cop as well. He has since built bridges at two departments, spending time as a police officer at Kansas State University from 2004 to 2007, then transferring to RCPD.

As a campus officer, you spend most of your time interacting with college students, but Manhattan kind of turns into “a ghost town” during the summer.

Sgt. Hayes has been named Officer of the Year by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1786 and acquired the RCPD Officer of the Year honors in 2009. During his time at K-State, he earned the chief’s award.  Hayes said although he doesn’t accept recognition very well, it was an “honor” to receive it.  “It does give you a little bit of a feeling, you know, that you’re doing what you should be doing, and that it’s appreciated,” he said. “You don’t get enough of that in this job on a daily basis. It makes me want to go out and try harder.”

Thank you, Bill Wisdom, for a job well done!     
October 19th – Aggieville Chili Crawl
Bewitching in Westloop, October 31st
Finance Committee Recommends to the Board that dues are set at $140.00
Hoop Holler & Shoot is nearly organized. There are a few spots still open, please sign up if you can assist.
Don’t forget about Dime-a-Day, flyers are on the tables
Dues are DUE…. $140.00

GUESTS: No other guests were present this morning.   

Meeting adjourned with the OPTIMIST CREED.

OCTOBER PROGRAMS: Program Chairs:  Heather Peterson, Greg McCune and Mike Fincham

                                                                 Coordinator: Mike Fincham

                MORNING MEETING       Coordinator: Greg McCune