Wichita Police Department

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]

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%

Recruits have been trained simultaneously 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.

The WPD was in 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 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]

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.

• 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 a 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

Since the establishment of the Wichita Police Department, 19 officers have died while on duty.[14]

A memorial erected on McLean Blvd. to honor Sedgwick County law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty which was removed as traffic patterns were changed.

• List of law enforcement agencies in Kansas

• Wichita Police webpage
• Wichita Police streaming scanner page