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Chetopa police use humor on social media to engage with the community
CHETOPA — The Chetopa Police Department is following the lead of other departments in sharing a lighter tone on social media posts when appropriate in an effort to engage with the community.
One recent post offered a pep talk: “You can make it through the week without threatening to move to Oswego. You will survive the potholes. (Consider it advanced driver training.) And no matter how many times you forget trash day, there’s always next week. Consistency builds character,” the post reads.
The post reminded drivers to watch their speed (45 in a 25 isn’t “making good time”) and that “we’re all in this together.
“Stay strong, stay safe, and keep laughing because if we can handle chasing loose livestock and answering calls about suspicious catfish activity, you can handle Monday.”
Police Chief Jason Wammack is responsible for the posts. He said the kinder, gentler and at times humorous tone is meant to engage with the community. Other Kansas police departments have capitalized on social media in similar ways.
“As you know, community policing is rooted in building trust, transparency and positive relationships between law enforcement and the public we serve. In recent years, social media has become one of our most important tools for connecting with the community — not just for sharing critical updates, but also for open-
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ing a window into the human side of policing.
“A lighter, more approachable tone allows us to do just that. Humor, when used thoughtfully, helps break down barriers and shows that officers are not just enforcers of the law, but also neighbors, friends and fellow community members. It invites conversation rather than confrontation and creates a sense of shared understanding,” Wammack said.
He added that the tone helps reach people who may not otherwise engage with law enforcement content.
“It allows us to broaden our audience, particularly younger generations, and create opportunities for dialogue that would be difficult through traditional means alone.”
Wammack said the department is always mindful to balance humor with professionalism. Officers never take lightly the responsibilities of law enforcement, he said, while also recognizing that trust is built through words, tone, consistency and empathy.
“A kinder, more relatable voice fosters the kind of twoway communication that is essential to effective community policing,” Wammack said.
Another post answered questions about people seeing officers in the Neosho River.
“Yes, we were in the river. Yes, we found what and who we were looking for. No floaties were harmed, though some egos might have been. And before the rumor mill cranks up, believe it or not, we actually can swim. Shocking, right?
“So if you were hoping for ‘Baywatch’ auditions, sorry, just your local police department doing the job again,” the post concluded.
Wammack added more details in a response to the original post. The officers weren’t practicing synchronized swimming and they didn’t lose their patrol car keys.
“And no, we’re not starting a side hustle as a river tour guide service. Sometimes the job takes us into places that don’t look like ‘police work,’ like wading, floating, or crawling over slippery rocks while side-eyeing catfish that are just a little too curious. What we can say is this: Drugs are bad. They’ll wreck your life faster than a busted canoe in whitewater rapids, and they don’t make you any better at escaping (or floating).”
Other missives included a note about homecoming week for Chetopa High School, an explanation why an officer can’t be everywhere at once and asking for a bit of civility, even when officers write speeding tickets.
“We’re held to a high standard of professionalism — shiny badges, polished boots and the ability to fill out paperwork at the speed of light. All we ask is that when you decide to break the law and we inevitably catch you, please extend us the same courtesy. … Stay classy, Chetopa.”
