Departing sheriff's service to county honored at luncheon

A farewell luncheon for departing Linn County Sheriff Kevin Friend on Tuesday, Sept. 17 drew county employees, officials, friends and past co-workers to celebrate his tenure with the county. Those attending the event included, front row from left, corrections officer Stacy Higgins, Sheriff Kevin Friend, Deputy Kyler Parscale, Sgt. Klayton Parscale, jail administrative assistant Jeannie Kerr; back row, Deputy Robert Maloney, Sgt. Bryce Hart, Detective Alex Cochrane, Undersheriff Bobby Johnson, corrections officer Amanda Maloney, dispatcher Dee Regina, Deputy James Akes, jail administrator Lt. Kimberly Herring, and dispatcher Christina Brown.  (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – The atmosphere in the Linn County Sheriff's Office staff meeting room in the county's Judicial Center was relaxed on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Staff members, county officials, friends and even past co-workers stopped by to wish departing Sheriff Kevin Friend well.

It was a time for memories of shared experiences to be remembered, most of them good or funny. It was a fitting tribute to a law enforcement officer that inherited his post during the time when the Judicial Center, including the 90-plus inmate jail, was being built.

Friend received a plaque commemorating his service, and he also received a shadow box made by Deputy Kyler Parscale and Sgt. Klayton Parscale that contained mementos of his service including his uniform and his certificate of appointment to his post signed by Gov. Laura Kelly.

Earlier this month Friend announced his intention to step away from the sheriff's post effective Sunday, Sept. 22. He has been hired to be an investigator for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and after a brief training period in Topeka, he will be stationed in Colby.

Undersheriff Bobby Johnson will assume administrative duties temporarily for the sheriff's office.

Deputy James Akes is the Republican nominee for sheriff's post following the August primary election and faces no formal challenge in November's election. He is expected to receive the nod to replace Friend by the Linn County Republican Central Committee soon.