Local student seeks information on history of Nevada Police Department

Katherine Kerbs didn't really know what she was getting into when she agreed to research and write a history of the Nevada Police Department as a directed study course at Cottey College. But she agreed to take on the semester-long project in spite of having hardly any information to start with.

Beginning with an old ledger, a handful of black-and-white crime scene photographs, a scrapbook pasted with clippings from the Safety Town program and a couple of artifacts like an old chief's badge, Kerbs is trying to piece together the history of the Nevada Police Department from its beginning sometime after the Civil War to the present.

It's precious little to go on, so Kerbs is asking for anyone who has any kind of knowledge, photographs or artifacts to share those things with her. "They have no written history or identity of who they are," Kerbs said. "That's what I'm trying to accomplish."

Though her project won't officially begin until early February, Kerbs has already started her research. She was told that the Bushwhacker Museum has a lot of information on the fire department and the sheriff's office, but almost nothing on the police department. "The police department has almost nothing; Bushwhacker has almost nothing, so we have literally nothing to begin writing this with," Kerbs said.

As with most research, any bit of information may be helpful. A name, a date, even a scrap of seemingly useless knowledge may lead to something bigger and more important. Kerbs said her research period will run through the end of April when she will begin actually writing. After writing, polishing and finishing the project, she will present it to the Cottey community as part of the directed study program. She plans on being done by the first of May, just before she graduates.

Kerbs said after meeting with Nevada Police Chief Graham Burnley, and the initial intimidation of the project wore off, that she became excited about doing the work. "Being from Nevada and having an interest in history, I thought I would love to do it and that I would be good at it because I have the local interest,"

Kerbs encourages anyone in the community with information to contact her. She can be reached through her e-mail at marykatherinekerbs@gmail.com or by telephone at (417) 684-1137.

Kerbs was the salutatorian of the Bronaugh High School Class of 2010. After receiving her associate degree from Cottey College, she plans to attend William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., and major in English with a history minor. Her long-term plans are to become a lawyer.