Officer in training let go; part-timer arrives
Staff writer
Marion Police Department, up to full staff a week ago, is now down one with the Nov. 1 departure of Jonathon Benevidez.
Benevidez, hired July 25 from the sheriff’s office where he was a jailer, was terminated, interim Police Chief Zach Hudlin said.
The department’s three fully certified officers are Peyton Heidebrecht, who began working for the department Monday, Aaron Slater, a deputy who will begin working for the department after his two weeks’ notice expires, and Hudlin.
The remaining officer, Bryant Edwards, has a provisional certification and is scheduled to go to police training in January.
After losing two deputies to Marion and two others to other jobs, the sheriff’s office has added a part-time deputy.
Judah Kidd, formerly a police officer for Park City, began working Oct. 30 and will work until he goes to a university in January, Undersheriff Larry Starkey said.
Kidd left Park City’s police department when he got an opportunity to work as a guide in Wyoming, Starkey said. He returned to Kansas and was hired by the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office was down to only four deputies — with a full staff considered nine — before Kidd came on part-time duty.
Undersheriff Larry Starkey has been filling in as a night shift patrol deputy.