Kansas students to ‘Blue Out’ to honor slain sheriff’s deputy

Neither school has blue in its school colors, but that will change Friday.

Campus and Maize high schools have announced a change to their student section theme for the football teams’ home games to “Blue Out” in honor of Sedgwick County sheriff’s Deputy Robert Kunze, who was killed in the line of duty Sunday.

Kunze responded to a suspicious character call in western Sedgwick County at about 1:15 p.m. Sunday. About 30 minutes later, Kunze activated his emergency button on his portable radio, the sheriff’s office said. When another officer arrived, Kunze and the suspect, Robert Greeson, were found on the ground.

Kunze, 41, was a 12-year veteran of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.

Cole Thompson, a senior Campus student section leader, said the change in the theme from “Colt Pride Day” for the football game was an “easy decision.”

“A lot of students have family members or close relations with officers,” Thompson said. “We also just had a ‘Coffee with a Cop’ event in our district, in which students were able to form relationships with police officers in our area.

“So we felt it was necessary to continue building a community backing the blue.”

Thompson said Campus has reached out to the Salina South student section in hopes both schools will wear blue Friday.

Maize plays Newton at home Friday for its homecoming weekend.

Wichita public schools has also announced employees of the district will wear blue Friday and encourages students to do the same.

This story was originally published September 20, 2018 at 12:30 PM.