City, police salute fallen Capt. Cowdin, others’ service
Ottawa police captain died during 1963 racing event at Lake Garnett
By JODIE GARCIA, Herald Staff Writer
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It was an annual road rally that turned into a riot and cost an Ottawa police captain his life.
Ottawa Police Chief Dennis Butler described the circumstances surrounding Capt. Robert Cowdin’s death during Wednesday’s city commission meeting.
Mayor Gene Ramsey declared May 11-17 as Police Week and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, which honors those who lost their lives or became disabled in the line of duty.
Butler said Cowdin, a 10-year veteran of the police department, was one of several officers from Ottawa to respond when a mob turned riotous during the Lake Garnett Grand Prix racing event in July of 1963.
Cowdin started firing tear gas into the crowd, but the gas drifted back onto Cowdin, who collapsed and later died of a heart attack, Butler said.
Butler said there is no permanent memorial in the Law Enforcement Center to commemorate the loss of Cowdin, and he planned to establish one sometime within the year.
In other matters, commissioners:
• Set a public hearing for 9:30 a.m. June 18 for a redevelopment project plan for the East Gate Travel Plaza along K-68 near I-35.
• Endorsed a new statewide transportation program enacted by the Kansas Legislature, which includes a listing of area improvements to be considered for funding. Franklin County commissioners recently passed a similar resolution.
• Amended county clerk certificate of subdivision regulations, which will allow plat filing when current taxes are paid to date but not in full.
• Declared May 4-10 as Teacher Appreciation Week and May 24 as Tradition of Caring for the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ottawa VFW.
The next commission meeting is a study session set for 4 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 101 S. Hickory St. The next regular meeting is set for 9:30 a.m. May 21.
Herald staff writer Jodie Garcia can be e-mailed at jgarcia@ottawaherald.com.
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