Police finally fill lieutenant postion

The Hutchinson Police Department has been operating without a second-in-command since the retirement of Lt. Dave Erlandson at the end of June.

His replacement is scheduled to be in place Nov. 29 when Sgt. Tom Gifferson becomes Lt. Tom Gifferson.

Gifferson, who is in his 13th year with the department, ninth as a sergeant, was confirmed for the position during an Oct. 21 Hutchinson Police Commission meeting. Chief Dan Hatten recommended Gifferson’s promotion. The other candidates were the department’s three other sergeants.

Gifferson’s promotion is the first in a series of hires and promotions that will be taking place in the department in the coming weeks as two sergeants, three officers and up to three dispatchers will be hired. All the positions are existing ones currently vacant, Hatten said.

Read more about the police shuffle in the Leader’s Nov. 3 print edition.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)