By RYLEE BURD
Tiger Media Network
In recent months, Kansas has mourned the loss of several law enforcement officers. The impact of those losses stretches far beyond individual departments, touching every badge, dispatch center, and community that calls this state home. For officers in Western Kansas, where towns are small and departments often function more like families than bureaucracies, each loss feels deeply personal.
At Fort Hays State University, University Police Chief Terry Pierce understands the emotional toll that comes with the job. His department, like many others, has faced the pain of grief while continuing to fulfill its day-to-day responsibilities of keeping a community safe.
“Law enforcement officers, and the professionals who work with them, share a deep connection with each other, regardless of what agency they work for,” Pierce said. “I’ve encouraged our team to support each other through these difficult times. I maintain open communication and make sure our staff know where to find help during the grieving process.”
For Pierce, that support is not limited to the police department. Officers can access counseling through statewide peer support programs, the Kansas Employee Assistance Program, or local resources. Students are also offered mental health services through the university’s Center for Student Success. Pierce believes that caring for one another, whether in uniform or not, is a responsibility shared by the whole community.
Fort Hays State University’s campus police officers operate in a setting unlike any other in law enforcement.
“We operate in a rather unique environment,” Pierce said. “Even in emotionally charged situations, we remain professional and approachable. This is a university campus, a community where primarily young people come to live and study. Our role is to keep them safe while remaining attentive to their needs.”
That balance between safety and connection is what defines campus policing in Hays. Officers are not only responding to emergencies, but they are also present at picnics, sporting events, career fairs, and graduation ceremonies. They sit on university committees, partner with housing and student government, and make it a point to be visible and approachable. Through these small, consistent acts of presence, they build trust before a crisis ever arises.
In the classroom, that same message is shared by Morgan Steele, assistant professor of Criminal Justice at Fort Hays State University. With a background in policing and community criminology, Steele teaches his students to understand both the ideals and the realities of law enforcement, especially in rural areas like Western Kansas.
“Rural policing gives officers the opportunity to build personal connections in their communities that are harder to achieve in urban settings,” Steele said. “But it also means solving problems with fewer resources and often without backup nearby.”
That lack of immediate support, he explained, means officers must learn to think quickly and clearly.
“We teach students that it’s okay to step back and think about what’s happening,” Steele said. “When you’re out there alone, you need to know your options and understand what the end goal of an encounter is supposed to be.”
He encourages his students to see officer safety and community safety as equally important and to recognize that the job is as much about helping people as it is about enforcing the law.
Steele said that one of the most common misconceptions among students entering the field is that law enforcement work is centered solely around arrests and investigations.
“That is a part of the job, but it’s not the biggest part,” he said. “Most agencies are oriented around service, helping someone with their car, directing traffic, or just being there when someone needs assistance. It’s about keeping the community safe so that everyone can go about their day.”
The national conversation around policing has also shaped how young people view the field. Steele noted that attitudes among students have shifted in waves, from calls for reform after incidents like Ferguson and George Floyd to renewed discussions about effectiveness and training.
“These debates have existed as long as we’ve had police,” he said. “What’s important is that students learn to balance officer safety with accountability and transparency.”
Pierce has witnessed the same evolution unfold in real time.
“Our officers remain dedicated to providing professional service to all members of the FHSU community,” he said. “Building and maintaining positive relationships remains our priority.”
For Pierce, that commitment to professionalism is what helps officers navigate moments of national scrutiny and local tragedy alike.
Steele believes that academia can play a larger role in supporting departments through those challenges. He pointed out that most policing research is drawn from about 50 departments nationwide, despite there being over 18,000 agencies in the United States.
“Small, rural agencies make up the majority, yet they’re underrepresented in research,” he said. “We need more collaboration between academics and rural law enforcement.”
For both Pierce and Steele, hope for the future of law enforcement in Western Kansas lies in the connection between officers, students, and the communities they serve.
“It is a privilege to lead this group of professionals,” Pierce said. “Our officers are caring, dedicated, and committed to protecting this community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The support for Fort Hays State University and law enforcement is clearly visible in the community. That’s what gives us the strength to move forward during challenging times.”
Steele echoed that optimism, noting that rural policing offers something deeply human and personal.
“In rural areas, you can make a direct impact on people’s lives,” he said. “That’s the biggest opportunity and the greatest responsibility.”
As Kansas continues to honor the lives of officers lost in the line of duty, those who remain on the front lines of Western Kansas policing carry forward their work with quiet resilience. For them, it is not just a career. It is a calling rooted in service, compassion, and community.