Opinion: La Cygne police chief looks back at past two years

Officer John Marino, from left, Police Chief Zachary Mathies, and Officer Kurtis West have been the mainstays of the La Cygne Police Department over the past two years. (Submitted photo)

By Zachary Mathies

Special to the Journal

To the La Cygne Community,

Over the past two years, your police department has worked diligently to strengthen and modernize public safety services while remaining committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and professional policing.

One of our first goals was creating a professional identity that is uniquely La Cygne. Today, our officers wear uniforms that are readily recognizable within our community, featuring our distinctive gray and black color scheme and La Cygne patches. Our patrol vehicles follow that same philosophy, proudly displaying our Swan insignia and providing a professional, highly visible presence throughout the city.

We understand that every dollar we spend comes from our taxpayers. With property taxes and municipal budgets often being topics of discussion, we have made it a priority to be responsible stewards of public funds. Between 2024 and 2026, we purchased three pre-owned patrol vehicles to replace aging equipment and improve reliability. By carefully selecting vehicles that were already largely equipped for police service, we were able to obtain all three for less than the cost of a single new patrol vehicle.

We also updated our duty sidearms through the purchase of quality pre-owned firearms while securing excellent trade-in values for our previous weapons. The total cost to the department was only $52, which was fully absorbed within our existing budget and required no additional taxpayer funding. Likewise, our holsters were replaced at no cost thanks to a donation from a neighboring law enforcement agency.

Technology is another area where we sought improvements without unnecessary spending. Much of the in-car technology had not been updated since its original implementation in 2018. Rather than purchasing all new equipment, we acquired refurbished laptops, vehicle mounts, and smart docking stations. These upgrades provide officers with improved access to information during traffic stops, calls for service, and criminal investigations while significantly reducing costs.

In addition to careful budgeting, we have successfully secured more than $60,000 in grant funding to purchase equipment and resources that may otherwise have required substantial budgeting. Every grant dollar received is a dollar that does not have to come from taxpayers.

Fiscal responsibility extends beyond equipment purchases. We have continuously evaluated call volumes, response times, and service demands to ensure officer staffing levels appropriately match community needs. This approach helps reduce unnecessary overtime and callbacks while also recognizing that officer wellness and family life are critical to long-term retention and sustainability. In addition to, lowering general spending amounts budgeted and fully maintaining control and responsibility over the budget entirely. 

Operationally, we have continued our High Visibility Patrol efforts, which have proven effective in reducing opportunities for theft and property crimes. Through proactive policing and diligent investigative work, the department has consistently maintained clearance rates in the upper 80% to 90% range.

Our proactive efforts have also contributed to increased enforcement of what are often classified as "society crimes," including traffic violations, city code violations, alcohol offenses, and drug-related offenses. Not every enforcement action results in criminal charges or punitive measures; whenever possible, we strive to educate, correct behavior, and prevent future violations before they become larger issues.

Everything we have accomplished has been guided by our department motto: Transparency. Ethics. Professionalism.

These are not simply words on a letterhead. They are principles that guide our decisions, shape our interactions, and define how we serve the citizens of La Cygne.

From the Chief: As I reflect on my two-year anniversary with the La Cygne Police Department, and my first stint as a Chief of Police, I want to personally thank the community for your support, patience, and trust. We have experienced our share of growing pains, learned from one another, and adapted our services to better meet the needs of our community.

Additionally, thank you to the officers who have bought in, invested in this department and community, and make it all possible. 

While there is always more work to do, I am proud of how far we have come together.

Thank you for allowing us the privilege of serving La Cygne. 

Zachary Mathies

Chief of Police

La Cygne Police Department

913-757-2144 Ext. 301