Kurt Andrew Ford

Kurt Andrew Foprd, 38, Newton, died April 9, 2005 at Newton Medical Center. He was born January 20, 1967 in Denver, Colorado, son of Max and Virginia Ford. He married Jill Preston in 1992. She survives of the home.

He was a 1985 graduate of Newton High School and a 1990 graduate of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

He joined the Harvey County Sheriff's Office on July 8, 1988 as a jail deputy. The following year, he was promoted to a road deputy position. In December 1991 he joined the newly formed sheriff's Emergency Response Team and later becoming the team leader.

He volunteered to become the department's DARE office in 1994 and assumed the role of narcotics dog handler in 1995. In 1997 he became chief of the Hesston Police Department. In 2001 he moved to Colorado to work in the private sector. In 2002 he joined the Douglas County Colorado Sheriff's Dep. based in Castle Rock, Colorado.

In September 2004 he and his family returned to Kansas and he worked as an officer with the Shawnee Police Department.

In January this year, he returned to the Harvey Co. Sheriff's Depptaratment as a deputy and became involved with youth programs such as DARE.

Throughout his lifetime, he touched many lives, both young and old. Law enforcement was always of great interest to him. He spent much of his time outside of law enforcement with his children and family members.

Other survivors: two sons, Preston and Adam Ford, of the home; his parents and a twin sister, Karla Winslow, all of Newton.

His funeral service was April 13 at Grace Community Church Newton. The committal service was private.