Welcome to 2026 - A Year for Peace, Partnership, and Personal Safety
By Chief Robert Spinks, MA, MS - Parsons Police Department

As we welcome 2026, I want to extend sincere best wishes for a safe, peaceful, and prosperous new year to every member of our Parsons community. The holiday season is a time of reflection, celebration, and renewal. I hope that each of you had an opportunity to be with family and friends, and that you enter this new year with optimism and purpose.

The arrival of a new year is more than a change on the calendar - it is an invitation to strengthen our commitments to one another and to the ideals that bind us as neighbors and as a community. In the weeks and months ahead, I encourage all residents to seize opportunities to be part of positive community change. Whether that means getting involved in neighborhood programs, attending community events, or simply looking out for one another, every act of engagement contributes to a safer and more connected Parsons.

As we head into 2026, your police department remains the most award-winning agency with recognition in community collaboration, traffic safety, policy management and training. In early 2026, the Parsons Police Department will complete accreditation through the Kansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (KLEAP), being one of only a dozen agencies to meet over 160 accreditation standards.

If current trends continue as we end 2025 and tally crime data, its looking like we may have drops in burglaries, thefts, and other crime categories.  

This time of year, also brings unique challenges. The current cold snap reminds us to take simple but important steps to protect your family and property. Please remember to:

• Prepare your home for winter weather - ensure that heating systems are functioning properly, pipes are insulated, and walkways are clear of ice and snow.
• Drive with caution on cold, slick roads - winter weather can change conditions quickly, and safe driving requires reduced speed, increased following distance, and your full attention.

As we celebrate, let us do so responsibly. Festive gatherings and safe transitions into the new year help ensure that everyone arrives home safely. During the New Year's period, our officers will be out in force focused on traffic safety and impaired driving enforcement. Plan ahead: designate a sober driver, use a ride-sharing service, or arrange for a safe ride home. Driving sober and safely is one of the most important gifts you can give to your loved ones. 

Community safety is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement - it is a shared endeavor. I invite you to continue building partnerships with our department through open communication, active involvement, and mutual respect. Parsons PD leads the region in community outreach through radio/tv/newspapers along with social media, public events and presentations along with our quarterly Report to the Community that is in The Sun Newspaper. Together, we can uphold the peace and enhance the quality of life for all who live, work, and visit Parsons.

We will continue to invest in our philosophy of effective, empathic and just policing which has led our agency to be the only department in Kansas to be certified as a Peace Officer Accredited agency by Police2Peace.org

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. Let us make 2026 a year of safety, service, and shared success.

Stay safe, stay engaged, and may this year be your best yet.