Police thank parents, urge shopping and winter travel caution

From left, City Councilwoman Janet Hepp visits with Betty and Ed Budke of McCook during the December Coffee with a Cop meeting, Tuesday morning, at McDonald's. (Bruce Baker/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook police officials said parents were doing a great job of safely dropping their children for school in the mornings and were grateful for the additional caution they had observed following the recent snowfall. Senior Sergeant Kevin Darling with the McCook Police Department said he appreciated the patience he had witnessed, especially considering the additional time it took to find parking spaces during winter weather.

McCook police officers, assisted by Red Willow County Sheriff's deputies and state troopers, have been routinely patrolling the neighborhoods surrounding local schools in the mornings, as well as having officers assist crossing guards on occasion.

During the December Coffee with a Cop meeting, Tuesday morning at McDonald's,

Sgt. Darling said trailers and boats parked on city streets, as well as inoperable vehicles, would be getting attention from police officers in coming weeks.

Sgt. Darling also asked holiday shoppers to avoid leaving valuables in their vehicles and at a minimum avoid leaving them within plain sight.

Kurt Vosburg, district engineer with the Nebraska Department of Roads, will join local law enforcement representatives for the Jan. 14, Coffee with a Cop meeting, 10 a.m. at McDonald's.