Task force turns 15
4:10 p.m. Monday, September 29, 2008
Harry Hammer and Mike Custenborder have an arrest warrant for someone they believe lives here in central Topeka.
"Didn't find anybody at home. Somebody's living there...the people that we're after," both agree.
They weren't able to make the arrest but they say the Fugitive Task Force has been successfully making arrests for the past fifteen years, even in frigid temperatures where they made this arrest on Valentines Day in 2007.
On their way to serve that warrant, they stopped someone making an illegal turn.
Custenborder tells the driver, "You turned from the outside lane across traffic in front of another car."
The passenger was less than two hours out of prison. Hammer is approached by another man he's arrested in the past.
"I've arrested him numerous times over the years," remembers Hammer.
He says that's the norm. They usually have a good relationship with those they've arrested and often re-arrested over the years.
Hammer says, "We've made Kansas a safer place. We've apprehended thousands of of people in the state of Kansas."
The task force works with the Topeka Police Department , Shawnee County Sheriff and Kansas Department of Corrections. In 2007 and 2008, the task force has helped arrest two of the America's Most Wanted cases.
Custenborder says when the task force began, no one knew who they were. Now, they are especially known to parole violators or those who have tried to run from the law.
"It became pretty obvious that there's folks out there that will look for you. And they will find you. And you will stand accountable for running away from parole," says Custenborder.
The Fugitive Task Force will celebrate its fifteen year anniversary with a celebration on Tuesday. Members of law enforcement from all over the state will attend.
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