DECEMBER 17, 2024 |
Photo – Hanna Marshal’s patrol vehicle – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Hanna Marshal’s Department has increased patrols in town.
For a year and a half, the town of Hanna had no marshal. Instead, the town contracted with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office to have deputies periodically patrol in exchange for a yearly payment.
That agreement ended in June of this year when Memorial Hospital of Carbon County Emergency Department Manager Dan Starr was sworn in as the part-time marshal. Marshal Starr quickly increased his department’s roster by hiring former Medicine Bow marshal Roger Hawks and Sheriff’s Deputy Trent Wozniak as part-time deputy marshals.
However, not everyone in Hanna is happy that all the officers are part-time. At the October 8th Hanna town council meeting, Councilwoman Alice Million asked Marshal Starr if he could perform more in-town patrols. The marshal explained that because both he and his deputies have full-time jobs elsewhere, it is difficult for them to spend more time in town than they already do. Marshal Starr said he will attempt to have an officer available to perform vin checks more often.
Fast forward to the December 10th Hanna town council meeting. Marshal Starr informed the governing body that he has received new equipment. Additionally, the marshal said he and his deputies wrote two tickets since November.
Marshal Starr pointed to the two citations as evidence that he and his deputies are spending more time patrolling the town. The marshal said Deputies Wozniak and Hawks, who was recently ill, have been handling the bulk of the calls while he recovers from a foot injury. Despite his condition, Marshal Starr said he has continued to help police the town.
Hanna will host an open house from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15th, to give the public an opportunity to meet Marshal Starr, his deputies, and the newly elected mayor and council members.
