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               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                    Washington, D. C.  20549     
                                
                                
                                
                           FORM 11-K
                                
         (Mark One)

            [X]ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934   


           For the Plan Year Ended December 31, 1997
                                
                                
                               OR
                                
                                
[ ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF
              THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934      
                                
                                
    For the Transition Period from ____ to _________________
                                
                                
                 Commission file number 1-3523
                                
                                
                                
                   A. Full title of the Plan:
                                
                      WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC.            
                      401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN
                                
                   B. Name of issuer of the securities held
                      pursuant to the plan and the address
                      of its principal executive office:
                                
                             WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.
                             818 Kansas Avenue
                             Topeka, Kansas  66612



                                                 EIN:  48-1123483
                                                         PN:  001










                  WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC.

                    401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN
                                 
      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 
     TOGETHER WITH REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                                
                                

                                
            Report of Independent Public Accountants
                                
                                
                                
To the Investment and Benefits Committee of 
Westar Security Services, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for
benefits of WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN as of
December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related statements of changes in net
assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1997 and for the
period from February 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996.  These financial statements
and the schedules referred to below are the responsibility of the Plan's
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements and schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing 
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of
December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the changes in net assets available for
benefits for the year ended December 31, 1997 and for the period from February
1, 1996 to December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic 
financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedules of assets
held for investment purposes as of December 31, 1997 and reportable
transactions for the year then ended are presented for the purpose of
additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial
statements, but are supplementary information required by the Department of
Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedules have been
subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic
financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material
respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.




Kansas City, Missouri,
June 26, 1998


                                                 EIN:  48-1123483
                                                         PN:  001

                  WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC.

                    401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN

          STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                    DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996

ASSETS 1997 1996 INVESTMENTS: Vanguard Windsor Fund $ 78,445 $ 39,225 Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock Fund 78,263 50,959 Vanguard Wellington Fund 30,999 15,176 Vanguard Index Trust 500 Portfolio Fund 40,462 20,619 Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund 61,319 17,810 Fidelity Magellan Fund 34,235 20,330 Vanguard International Growth Portfolio 12,764 - Vanguard Bond Index Fund-Total Bond Market Portfolio 2,513 - Vanguard Investment Contract Fund 4,548 543 Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Prime Portfolio 6,886 303 Loan Fund - 484 Total Investments 350,434 165,449 DIVIDENDS RECEIVABLE 954 1,111 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $351,388 $166,560 The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
EIN: 48-1123483 PN: 001 WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 1, 1996 TO DECEMBER 31, 1996 1997 1996 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS, beginning of period $166,560 $ - ADDITIONS: INVESTMENT INCOME- Net Appreciation in Fair Value of Investments 48,214 5,973 Interest 580 565 Dividends 24,659 9,692 Total Investment Income 73,453 16,230 PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS 82,331 45,190 Total Additions 155,784 61,420 DEDUCTIONS: Benefits Paid (3,337) (2,697) Other - (150) Total Deductions (3,337) (2,847) TRANSFERS FROM OTHER PLANS 32,381 107,987 NET INCREASE 184,828 166,560 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS, end of period $351,388 $166,560 The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 (1) PLAN DESCRIPTION: The following brief description of the Westar Security Services, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the plan document for more complete information. (a) General--In 1995, Western Resources, Inc. (WRI) acquired two security service providers, Mobilfone Security of Topeka and Communications & Signaling, Inc. (CSI), which together formed the WRI subsidiary, Westar Security Services, Inc. (the Company). This defined contribution plan was established for employees of the Company effective February 1, 1996. All employees are eligible to participate in the Plan after ninety days of service. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended. (b) Contributions--Participants are allowed to make elective deferral contributions of between 1% and 14% of taxable wages subject to certain Internal Revenue Code limits. These contributions effectively reduce a participant's taxable wages because they are withheld from earnings on a pre-tax basis. An employee may transfer a qualifying rollover distribution to the Trustee under the Plan subject to terms and conditions of the Plan. The Company may make qualified nonelective employer contributions or regular employer contributions at its discretion. In order to share in either employer contribution, the eligible employee must be an employee of the Company on the last day of the Plan year and must have completed 1,000 hours of service during the Plan year. Participants are fully vested in elective deferral contributions, qualified nonelective employer contributions, and amounts representing qualifying rollover distributions. Participants vest in regular employer contributions on a 5-year graded schedule. Upon retirement, death, disability or termination of employment, all vested balances are paid to the participant or his beneficiaries in accordance with Plan terms. (c) Investment Funds--Participants may elect to have their contributions and the Company's qualified non-elective contributions invested in the funds listed below, excluding the Loan Fund. The Vanguard Investment Contract Trust seeks to preserve the value of an investment and provide an attractive level of interest by investing in investment contracts issued by financial institutions and in contracts backed by high-quality bonds and bond mutual funds. The Vanguard/Windsor Fund is a diversified equity fund invested in equity securities providing dividend and capital appreciation income. The Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Prime Portfolio is a money market fund invested in commercial paper and certificates of deposit. The Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock Fund provides the possibility of long-term growth through increases in the value of the stock and the reinvestment of its dividends. A portion of the fund may also be invested in cash reserves, such as money market instruments, to accommodate daily transactions. The Loan Fund is a conduit for the distribution and repayment of loan proceeds. The investments in the fund represent loans due from participants. The Vanguard Wellington Fund is a balanced fund which invests in stocks for potential capital growth and dividend income and in bonds for current income potential and conservation of principal. The Vanguard Index Trust-500 Portfolio is a growth and income fund which seeks to provide long-term capital growth. The Vanguard Index Trust-500 Portfolio attempts to provide investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of publicly traded stocks, in the aggregate, as represented by the Standard & Poor's Composite Stock Price Index. The Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund is a growth fund seeking long-term growth of capital by investing principally in a portfolio of common stocks. The Fidelity Magellan Fund is a diversified equity fund invested in equity securities providing long-term capital appreciation. Vanguard International Growth Portfolio invests in the stocks of about 200 companies located in roughly 30 countries around the world. Vanguard Bond Index Fund-Total Bond Market Portfolio invests in about 1,500 bonds from a variety of industries in an attempt to match the performance and risk characteristics of the unmanaged Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index. The investments range from short-term bonds that mature in about a year to long-term bonds that mature in 20 or 30 years, giving the Fund an average maturity of about nine years. The above funds are managed by Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company (Vanguard) except the Fidelity Magellan Fund which is managed by Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company. All investments are stated at quoted market values, except as follows. Investments in Vanguard Investment Contract Trust and Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Prime Portfolio are stated at cost which approximates market value as determined by Vanguard. Investments in the Loan Fund are stated at face value. (d) Loans to Participants--In accordance with Plan provisions participants are permitted to borrow a specified portion of the vested balances in their individual accounts. Loans are evidenced by promissory notes payable to the Plan. (e) Income Taxes--The Plan obtained a determination letter on March 27, 1998, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan Administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and, therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in these financial statements. (f) Plan Termination--The Company is free to terminate the Plan at any time. (2) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (a) Basis of Accounting--The Plan's financial statements are maintained on the accrual basis. Employee contributions are accrued as the employees' salaries are earned. (b) Use of Estimates--The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. (c) Participant Accounts--A separate account is maintained for each participant. Allocations to participant accounts for employee contributions are made when the contributions are received by the trustee. Allocations to participant accounts for the net of interest dividends, realized and unrealized changes in investment market value and Plan expenses are made when such amounts are earned or incurred. Forfeitures arise when participants leave the Plan before any discretionary regular employer contributions become fully vested. Forfeitures are reallocated to the accounts of all participants entitled to share in the employer contribution. (d) Administrative Expenses--All administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the Company with the exception of loan administrative charges which will be paid by the participants. The Company has no continuing obligation to pay these expenses. (3) ASSET TRANSFERS: The accounts of participants who change employment status and new employees with assets in previous employers' qualified plans are transferred into the Plan in accordance with Plan provisions. (4) SECURITY ALARM MONITORING ACQUISITION: As a result of the acquisition of Protection One, certain security service employees were transferred to Protection One. At March 31, 1997, those employees' contributions ceased although account balances continue to be maintained in the Westar Security Services Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. These employees became participants in the Westar Security Services 401(k) Plan at April 1, 1997. (5) FUND INFORMATION: The following tables present changes in net assets available for benefits in fund detail. (4) Fund Information (continued):
Year Ended December 31, 1997 Money Company Investment Market Common Contract Windsor Reserves Stock Loans ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ - $ 202 $ - $ 21,806 $ - Interest 244 - 323 5 8 Dividends - 12,445 - 2,722 - 244 12,647 323 24,533 8 Participant Contributions 1,927 12,388 4,259 12,019 - Total additions 2,171 25,035 4,582 36,552 8 DEDUCTIONS Benefits Paid - (281) - (1,251) (400) Other - - - - - Total deductions - (281) - (1,251) (400) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 2,171 24,754 4,582 35,301 392 TRANSFERS Interfund Transfers (91) 8,094 76 (11,236) (92) Transfers-other plans 1,925 6,372 1,925 3,239 - Total transfers 1,834 14,466 2,001 (7,997) (92) Net Increase 4,005 39,220 6,583 27,304 (484) Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period 543 39,225 303 50,959 484 End of period $ 4,548 $ 78,445 $ 6,886 $ 78,263 $ 0 (Continued)
(4) Fund Information (continued):
Year Ended December 31, 1997 Index Trust 500 Wellington Portfolio PRIMECAP Magellan ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ 2,594 $ 8,724 $ 10,474 $ 4,706 Interest - - - - Dividends 2,769 817 2,081 2,190 5,363 9,541 12,555 6,896 Participant Contributions 6,336 11,375 17,626 7,233 Total additions 11,699 20,916 30,181 14,129 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid (482) (235) (80) (424) Other - - - - Total deductions (482) (235) (80) (424) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 11,217 20,681 30,101 13,705 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers 2,681 (838) 2,325 200 Transfers-other plans 1,925 - 11,083 - Total transfers 4,606 (838) 13,408 200 Net increase 15,823 19,843 43,509 13,905 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period 15,176 20,619 17,810 20,330 End of period $ 30,999 $ 40,462 $ 61,319 $ 34,235
(4) Fund Information (continued):
Year Ended December 31, 1997 International Total Growth Bond Portfolio Market Other Total Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ (368) $ 76 $ - $ 48,214 Interest - - - 580 Dividends 544 137 954 24,659 176 213 954 73,453 Participant Contributions 6,676 2,492 - 82,331 Total additions 6,852 2,705 954 155,784 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid - (184) - (3,337) Other - - - - Total deductions - (184) - (3,337) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 6,852 2,521 954 152,447 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers - (8) (1,111) - Transfers-other plans 5,912 - - 32,381 Total transfers 5,912 (8) (1,111) 32,381 Net increase (decrease) 12,764 2,513 (157) 184,828 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period - - 1,111 166,560 End of period $ 12,764 $ 2,513 $ 954 $ 351,388
(4) Fund Information (continued):
Period From February 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996 Money Company Investment Market Common Contract Windsor Reserves Stock Loans ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ - $ 2,181 $ - $ 602 $ - Interest 13 - 30 505 17 Dividends - 3,660 - 734 - 13 5,841 30 1,841 17 Participant Contributions 530 7,862 580 15,562 - Total additions 543 13,703 610 17,403 17 DEDUCTIONS Benefits Paid - (12) (1,193) (420) - Other - - - - - Total deductions - (12) (1,193) (420) - Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 543 13,691 (583) 16,983 17 TRANSFERS Interfund Transfers - - - (370) 467 Transfers-other plans - 25,534 886 34,346 - Total transfers - 25,534 886 33,976 467 Net Increase 543 39,225 303 50,959 484 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period - - - - - End of period $ 543 $ 39,225 $ 303 $ 50,959 $ 484 (Continued)
(4) Fund Information (continued):
Period From February 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996 Index Trust 500 Wellington Portfolio PRIMECAP Magellan ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ 427 $ 2,105 $ 1,451 $ (793) Interest - - - - Dividends 943 307 504 2,433 1,370 2,412 1,955 1,640 Participant Contributions 3,875 6,325 5,091 5,365 Total additions 5,245 8,737 7,046 7,005 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid (13) (12) (365) (682) Other (150) - - - Total deductions (163) (12) (365) (682) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 5,082 8,725 6,681 6,323 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers (97) - - - Transfers-other plans 10,191 11,894 11,129 14,007 Total transfers 10,094 11,894 11,129 14,007 Net increase 15,176 20,619 17,810 20,330 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period - - - - End of period $ 15,176 $ 20,619 $ 17,810 $ 20,330
(4) Fund Information (continued):
Period From February 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996 Other Total ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ - $ 5,973 Interest - 565 Dividends 1,111 9,692 1,111 16,230 Participant Contributions - 45,190 Total additions 1,111 61,420 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid - (2,697) Other - (150) Total deductions - (2,847) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 1,111 58,573 TRANSFERS Interfund Transfers - - Transfers-other plans - 107,987 Total transfers - 107,987 Net increase 1,111 166,560 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period - - End of period $ 1,111 $ 166,560
EIN: 48-1123483 PN: 001 PAGE 1 of 1 WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN LINE 27a - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES DECEMBER 31, 1997
Number Current Description of Units Cost Value Vanguard/Windsor Fund 4,619.8328 $ 76,854 $ 78,445 Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Prime Portfolio 6,886.4100 6,886 6,886 Vanguard/Wellington Fund 1,052.5859 27,843 30,999 Vanguard Index Trust 500 Portfolio 449.2303 29,763 40,462 Vanguard/PrimeCap Fund 1,549.6457 53,746 61,319 Fidelity Magellan Fund 359.3413 30,244 34,235 Vanguard International Growth Portfolio 778.7780 13,125 12,764 Vanguard Bond Index Fund-Total Bond Market Portfolio 249.1331 2,438 2,513 Vanguard Investment Contract Trust 4,549.8300 4,548 4,548 *Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock 1,820.0683 57,282 78,263 Total Investments $302,729 $350,434 *Investment with party-in-interest to the Plan.
EIN: 48-1123483 PN: 001 WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN LINE 27d - SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
Type of Dollar Net Gain Investment Transaction Number Value (Loss) (1) Magellan Fund Purchases 46 $ 7,411 $ - Sales 2 402 22 Vanguard/Wellington Fund Purchases 47 11,100 - Sales 5 640 32 Vanguard/PrimeCap Fund Purchases 47 42,930 - Sales 3 11,975 4,392 Vanguard/Windsor Fund Purchases 46 30,648 - Sales 4 3,075 786 Vanguard Investment Contract Purchases 27 3,853 - Trust Sale 3 90 - Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Purchases 57 47,005 - Prime Portfolio Sales 38 40,745 - Vanguard Index Trust 500 Purchases 28 11,259 - Portfolio Sales 3 957 182 Vanguard International Growth Portfolio Purchases 27 12,596 - Sales 1 8 - Vanguard Bond Index Fund-Total Bond Purchases 8 2,492 - Market Portfolio Sales 2 190 1 Western Resources, Inc. Purchases 30 16,513 - Stock Fund Sales 5 13,742 (170) (1) Amount shown in this column is cost of purchases or proceeds from sales.
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment and Benefits Committee for the Westar Security Services, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN By: Signature Title Date /s/ S. L. Kitchen Chairman June 26, 1998 /s/ Ira W. McKee, Jr. Member June 26, 1998 /s/ John K. Rosenberg Member June 26, 1998 /s/ Kenneth T. Wymore Member June 26, 1998 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description of Documents Page 23 Consent of Independent Public Accountants (filed electronically)
                                                            Exhibit 23


            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference of our report dated June 26, 1998, included in the Form 11-K for the
Westar Security Services, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, into the Western
Resources, Inc. previously filed Registration Statements File Nos. 33-49467,
33-49553, 333-02023, 33-50069, 33-62375, and 333-26115 of Western Resources,
Inc. on Form S-3; Nos. 333-02711, 333-56369 and 333-56369-01 of Western
Resources, Inc. on Form S-4; Nos. 33-57435, 333-13229, 333-06887, 333-20393,
and 333-20413 of Western Resources, Inc. on Form S-8, and No. 33-50075 of
Kansas Gas and Electric Company on Form S-3.





Arthur Andersen LLP  

Kansas City, Missouri,
  June 26, 1998