At about 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, Lee Shelton Leon walked through the front door of the Barton County Sheriff’s Office with a rifle. 

The Great Bend man, apparently angry because sheriff’s deputies had served him a “protection from abuse order” earlier in the day, allegedly threatened Sheriff’s Office personnel and appeared to be extremely agitated.

And even though the weapon turned out to be only an air rifle, there was a split second where this incident could have gone south in a hurry, ending with a tragic outcome. But, Undersheriff Steve Billinger disarmed him, and with the assistance of BCSO Lt. David Paden and Great Bend Police Department detective Jefferson Davis, Leon was subdued and arrested.

In the blink of an eye, all of those possibly horrific endings surely flashed through the minds of those in that room. They are all trained to deal with these tense situations, and those involved were all experienced law enforcement officers, but every scenario like this that pops up poses its own unique risks.

Yet, in the end, no one was injured.

It was the way officers handled the situation that made the difference, as District 2 Commissioner Barb Esfeld noted when praising the efforts of the BCSO staff during this week’s Barton County Commission meeting Tuesday morning. “That could have been really ugly,” if they had reacted differently, she said. “Just the way Brian Bellendir, Steve, Dave Paden and (BCSO Administrative Assistant) Linda (Francis) dealt with it, they need commended. I can’t imagine being in their shoes.”

“That could have been a million times worse, and cool heads prevailed,” said commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson, District 3. “And that’s what you need from law enforcement.”

Law enforcement in general has come under fire of late for its tactics and responses to emotionally charged cases. Whether some of that criticism is justified or not, our officers here reacted with restraint and professionalism.

Sure, heart rates were likely racing that afternoon. But, like Hutchinson said, cooler heads prevailed.

We can all rest easier knowing that those charged with keeping us safe are professionals of this caliber. We thank you for being willing to take on violence and bring about the best possible outcome.

— Dale Hogg