Geary's interim police chief is beginning the hiring process after several officers leave the force

The Geary Police Department began searching for new officers after several officers left their jobs. To fill the gap, neighboring agencies stepped in.

“This is a vulnerable moment for the city — but it’s not the end of the world,” said Geary Interim Police Chief JJ Stitt.

On Thursday morning, Geary Police Chief Alicia Ford posted on her department's Facebook page that she and the other Geary police officers will no longer serve the Geary community.

Ford said:

“I want to encourage every single member of this great community to take the time to get to know your council members and get as involved in the city as possible, especially by attending city council meetings.”

“Your voices are stronger when you stand together as one, and you all have the opportunity to make the change you want to see in your community. It was an honor to serve Geary and I will forever appreciate the people of this community.”

Stitt said he would be ready to take over the company as soon as Ford made the announcement.

“I got a call from the mayor, they had a problem, they were hearing rumors that their police department was failing them,” Stitt said. “I was kind of on standby if something was going to happen, and lo and behold, it actually happened.”

Stitt is an outside law enforcement officer hired by the city to fill the role of Geary's police chief until it can rebuild its police force. Stitt said small-town police departments face these risks.

“It happens more often,” Stitt said.

Stitt said four officers left the department Thursday and two others left the department several weeks before Ford's post.

“Right now we have two officers,” Stitt said.

However, Stitt said the news attention to the issue is a good sign. He said word spread among potential candidates for Geary's empty patrol cars.

“The coverage was wonderful,” Stitt said. “I probably answered fifteen phone calls today alone. We already have interviews scheduled for tomorrow morning.”

Stitt said he remains confident he can help open an unexpected chapter for Geary Police.

“It will be a relatively fluid process,” Stitt said. “In times like these, they will still be taken care of – we won’t miss a thing and it will turn out to be a good thing.”

Stitt said the policy needs to be clarified between the city and police to improve relations and prevent something like this from happening again.

Stitt said this issue will not impact emergency services in Geary. The Blaine County and Canadian County Sheriff's Offices are assisting in responding to calls.