Ambulance transport service
Lenexa initiated a partnership with Johnson County Med-Act to provide ambulance transport service. This move increases efficiency and allows city fire and emergency medical personnel to remain in Lenexa and focus on first-response care for all medical incidents in the city, while Johnson County Med-Act transports patients to the hospital.
National honors for canine unit
The Lenexa canine unit was hailed as the best in the nation for the second consecutive time, with Officer Ryan Sumner and K9 Diesel earning first place and Officer Jim Harris and K9 Speedy earning second place in competitions testing the dogs’ general obedience, tactical movements, jumps, confrontations with an armed decoy, and general control. In addition, Officer Ryan Sumner and K9 Diesel won the 3rd Quarter National Police Canine - North Central Region – Best Find of the Quarter Award for 2009. The award recognizes the K9 team for its excellent work on the apprehension of a previously armed subject who had fled the scene on foot after being involved in an armed disturbance.
License plate readers
With funds from a federal grant, the Police Department installed new license plate readers in two police cars, enabling police to collect data used to solve crime in the community. The license plate readers allow the department to collect data and provides numerous benefits including, the ability to remove suspended and revoked drivers from the road, proactive identification of wanted subjects, recovery of stolen vehicles, assistance with AMBER Alerts and missions related to missing and exploited children, development and maintenance of sexual predator hot lists, drug interdiction, highway safety, homeland security initiatives, gang and racketeering interdiction, and it provides a searchable database for criminal intelligence.
Safety education
The fire and police departments also continued to provide educational programs for members of the community including Citizens’ Police Academy, Youth Police Academy, D.A.R.E and fire educational programs at Lenexa schools and daycare centers during Fire Prevention Month.
Lenexa recycles
The city initiated new programs to encourage recycling and promote sustainability. Lenexa expanded its electronics waste recycling programs to coincide with each of the three dumpster weekends offered by the city. Community members volunteered to help with the city’s new festival recycling program, which enabled thousands of festival-goers to recycle waste at city festivals.
Rain barrel parade
And, the city introduced the new Rain Barrel Parade to educate citizens about environmental and water quality benefits of “green” stormwater solutions. Nineteen local groups or individuals decorated rain barrels, which were displayed at city-owned and partner sites throughout the city. Members of the community voted for their favorite for the “People’s Choice Award.” The barrel that received the most votes was given to a lucky winner during Waterfest, and the remaining barrels were auctioned off on eBay to raise funds for future Rain to Recreation educational efforts.
