Wichita Police Department
| Wichita Police Department | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | WPD |
| Agency overview | |
| Employees | 862[1] |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Wichita, Kansas, USA |
 | |
| Map of Wichita Police Department's jurisdiction | |
| Size | 138.9 square miles (360 km2) |
| Population | 361,420 (2006)[2] |
| General nature |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Wichita, Kansas |
| Agency executive |
|
| Facilities | |
| Chevy Tahoe PIs | Ford Crown Victoria PI |
| Website | |
| Wichita Police | |
The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Wichita, Kansas, United States. WPD's jurisdiction overlaps with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office. The WPD is housed at the City Hall building located at 455 N Main, Wichita, Kansas.
Current chief[]
The current chief is Chief Gordon Ramsay. Chief Ramsay was appointed as chief on 18 December 2015 and was sworn in as Chief of Police, relieving Interim Chief Nelson Mosley in January 2016. The original town of Wichita was incorporated in July 1870 and was elevated to City status in April 1871. The Wichita Police Department was officially created on April 13, 1871. Wyatt Earp was a documented notable Police officer in WPD history in 1875.
The Wichita Police Department participated in a Stop Study in 2001 in conjunction with Brian Withrow, Ph.D., Wichita State University, to evaluate if WPD officers show differential patterns of enforcement based on race or ethnicity. The report was released in 2002 did not substantiate any evidence of racial or ethnic profiling by the officers of the WPD.[3]
Organization[]
Rank structure[]
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Chief of Police |  |
| Deputy Chief (Division Commander) |  |
| Captain (Bureau Commander) |  |
| Lieutenant (Watch/Unit Commander) |  |
| Sergeant |  |
| Detective | |
| Police Officer |
Investigation Division[]
The investigation division consists of the following Bureaus and Sections: Property Crimes Bureau, Crimes Against Persons Bureau, and Special Investigations Bureau.
Property Crimes Bureau[]
The Property Crimes Bureau consists of the following sections:
- Burglary
- Auto Theft
- Larceny
- Financial Crimes
- Technical Services (Property & Evidence, Crime Scene Investigators, Latent Print Examiners, Photographer & Photo Technician)
Crimes Against Persons Bureau[]
The Crimes Against Persons Bureau consists of the following sections:
- Accident Follow-Up
- Gang Unit/Night Investigations
- Homicide
- Robbery
- Sex Crimes/Felony Assault/Domestic Violence
- Exploited/Missing Children Unit
Special Investigations Bureau[]
The Special Investigations Bureau consists of two sections:
- Administrative Section
- Undercover Section
Patrol Division[]
The City of Wichita is divided into 4 bureaus for field patrol officers, and substations have been established in each area for a closer connection to the neighborhoods they serve.
- Patrol East has 10 patrol beats with a substation at 350 S Edgemoor St.
- Patrol North has 9 patrol beats with a substation at 3015 E 21st St N.
- Patrol South has 10 patrol beats with a substation at 211 E Pawnee St.
- Patrol West has 10 patrol beats with a substation at 661 N Elder St.
Plans for a fifth bureau, meant to serve mid-town Wichita, are being reviewed by the City Council.[4]
Air section[]
The first purchase of a WPD helicopter to combat increasing crime was in 1970 with a Hughes 300B. Today the air section has one MD500E helicopter and four people attached to the unit working on staggered schedules. According to the WPD's website,[5] the air section "coordinates and supports the operational activities of ground units by assisting with apprehensions, vehicle pursuits, foot chases, criminal investigations, traffic control, search-and-rescue, crime prevention, community-oriented policing activities, and special community events." Only twelve other departments in the country match the longevity of the Wichita Police Department's Air Section according to Air Beat Magazine [6]
Demographics[]
Breakdown of the makeup of the rank and file of WPD: [7]
- Male: 89%
- Female: 11%
- White: 82%
- African-American/Black: 9%
- Hispanic: 5%
- Other: 3%
New recruit training[]
Recruits have been trained with the recruits from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office since 1985 at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Training Center (WSCLETC). Training consists of 23 weeks of basic training and an additional 336 hours of training for the particular needs of the Metropolitan City of Wichita.
Notable events in WPD history[]
The WPD was at the forefront of the national news for the BTK (Bind, Torture, and Kill) serial killer case that spanned 1974-1978 in which 10 people were murdered and ended with his arrest and conviction in 2005.[8] A tissue sample from his daughter was used to confirm DNA tests that linked Rader to ten killings committed between 1974 and 1991 Dennis Rader. Homicide Unit Commander Ken Landwehr was the department's expert on the BTK killer case, so the Wichita Police Department's Chief of Police Norman D. Williams assigned Landwehr to head the BTK Task Force in 2004.[9]
A notable event in WPD's history was the Herman Hill riot on Easter Sunday, 1979, at a park called Herman Hill, where 88 people were arrested, and at least 51 were injured.
The Wichita Police Department, in conjunction with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, filed the very first Federal Racketeering case on 09/28/07 in the State of Kansas' history. Two indictments name 28 defendants - all Crips Gang members, citing 4 murders, 11 attempted murders, and other crimes including arson, robbery, cocaine, and Crack cocaine possession with intent to distribute and transportation of minors to engage in prostitution. According to the indictment,[10] the Crips formed a criminal enterprise engaging in illegal activities including narcotics trafficking, drive-by shootings, and burglaries; sought to preserve and expand their power through intimidation, threats and assaults; attempted to preserve and protect themselves from interference by law enforcement; and tried to keep their victims in fear through violence and threats.[11]
Awards[]
The WPD was honored to receive awards including:
1991 Police Chief Rick Stone named "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year."
The United States Department of Justice Marshal's Service selected Wichita Police Chief Rick Stone for this honor "on the basis of outstanding professionalism and law enforcement leadership." At the award ceremony in the nation's capitol, Chief Stone passed the credit on to his officers and staff.[12]
2003 Webber Seavey Excellence in Law Enforcement Award [13] for the "Planeview Project" in recognition for promoting a standard of excellence that exemplifies law enforcement's contribution and dedication to the quality of life in local communities. The award is named for Webber S. Seavey, first president of the IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police). According to the IACP, "the problem oriented policing "Planeview Project" was developed and implemented to address an increase in violent crime in the Planeview area of Wichita. The project set the following goals: reduce violent and juvenile crime, enhance citizen relationships, develop partnerships with key stakeholders, address neighborhood blight and instill a sense of pride and ownership in the area. Through a number of sustained policing strategies, the Project yielded impressive results in 2002. Juvenile crime dropped 32 percent from June through September, auto burglaries fell by 12 percent, and residential burglaries were reduced by 3 percent during the same time period. In addition, larcenies dropped by 8 percent and vandalism - including graffiti - decreased by 9 percent. There has not been a homicide in Planeview since December 31, 2001. Aggravated assaults dropped by 57 percent and simple assaults by 78 percent in 2002."
2003 Boy Scouts of America Whitney Young Jr Community Service Award
Camp Awareness is supported by the Wichita Police Department and the Boy Scouts of America. This camp is a four-day camp for boys between the ages of 7 and 10 that are not in the Cub Scout Program. The boys are recruited through schools and other community organizations. Summer day camp activities include swimming, archery, arts and crafts, and field games.
Weapons[]
- Glock 17 GEN 4 9mm- One of the sidearms authorized for use
- Glock 19-Alternate approved sidearm
- Colt AR-15 5.56×45mm NATO- CAR-15 R6944 and similar rifles are used as patrol rifle by officers of the WPD.
- Remington 870-Cruiser-mounted shotgun.
- Taser- X2 Taser has been in use with the WPD for several years.
- Pepper Spray
Fallen officers[]
Since the establishment of the Wichita Police Department, 23 officers and a K9 have died while on duty. They include the following:
- Captain Clay Morsell Germany, EOW: Friday, July 9, 2021, Cause: COVID19
- Lieutenant John Eugene Galvin, EOW: Saturday, November 4, 2000, Cause: Explosion
- Police Officer Danny Dean Laffey, EOW: Tuesday, January 5, 1982, Cause: Struck by Vehicle
- Police Officer Paul Garofalo, EOW: Saturday, November 8, 1980, Cause: Gunfire
- Patrolman David A. Kenyon, EOW: Friday, October 26, 1962, Cause: Gunfire
- Detective Merle Rankin Colver, EOW: Friday, August 14, 1931, Cause: Gunfire
- Lieutenant James O. Pugh, EOW: Friday, August 1, 1930, Cause: Motorcycle Crash
- Patrolman Paul E. Gilmore, EOW: Friday, July 18, 1930, Cause: Motorcycle Crash
- Patrolman Joseph Earl Marshall, EOW: Tuesday, August 9, 1927, Cause: Gunfire
- Patrolman Vernon G. Ogden, EOW: Sunday, June 26, 1927, Cause: Vehicle Pursuit
- Patrolman Edward F. Hall, EOW: Friday, April 10, 1925, Cause: Gunfire
- Patrolman Harrison R. Brown, EOW: Sunday, January 4, 1925, Cause: Gunfire
- Patrolman Robert C. Scudder, EOW: Tuesday, November 27, 1923, Cause: Gunfire
- Detective Charles E. Galloway, EOW: Sunday, July 15, 1923, Cause: Duty Related Illness
- Detective Charles D. Hoffman, EOW: Wednesday, November 23, 1921, Cause: Gunfire
- Patrolman Robert Fitzpatrick, EOW: Monday, November 21, 1921, Cause: Gunfire
- Patrolman A. L. Young, EOW: Saturday, November 5, 1921, Cause: Gunfire
- Detective William H. Ballard, EOW: Tuesday, July 20, 1920, Cause: Gunfire
- Captain Frank W. Griswold, EOW: Sunday, May 23, 1915, Cause: Gunfire
- Detective William L. Humphries, EOW: Tuesday, February 23, 1915, Cause: Gunfire
- Patrolman S. A. Hartzell, EOW: Friday, December 14, 1888, Cause: Gunfire
- Patrolman Henry Ebenhack, EOW: Monday, September 24, 1888, Cause: Gunfire
- Patrolman J. W. Kerwin, EOW: Friday, March 23, 1888, Cause: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
- K9 Rooster, EOW: Saturday, March 18, 2017, Cause: Gunfire[14]
A memorial was erected on McLean Blvd. to honor Sedgwick County law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. However, it was removed as traffic patterns were changed. The current memorial, located on the southwest corner of Central and Main, was dedicated in August of 2011.[15]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Wichita Police site
- ^ "Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2007 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007" (CSV). 2007 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ Wichita police Racial Profiling Study
- ^ City Council Considering Adding Fifth Wichita Police Bureau
- ^ http://www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/Police/Special+Operations/Air+Section/Air+Section.htm
- ^ Air Beat Magazine
- ^ Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, 2000: Data for Individual State and Local Agencies with 100 or More Officers Archived September 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Police Chief Magazine
- ^ National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
- ^ USDOJ
- ^ Article by Axcess News
- ^ "Chief chosen best in U.S.- A summer of professionalism" Wichita Eagle. November 26, 1991
- ^ International Association of Chiefs of Police
- ^ The Officer Down Memorial Page
- ^ "Waymarking.com".
External links[]
- Government of Wichita, Kansas
- Municipal police departments of Kansas