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“Rinni” was the first dog to go into training for police work for the Police Department. The 65 pound two year old German Shepherd was donated by 17 year old Jim Ashley after an article in the newspaper indicated Chief Pond was interested in establishing a dog unit. This was approved by the City Manager.
In April, 1960, the Wichita Police Pistol Team took top honors at the Kansas Peace Officer’s Association at Emporia, Kansas, with a score of 1,020 points. Members of the team included Sergeant Everett Nunemaker, Traffic Investigators Wilbert Tatman and Gordon Gwinn, and Patrol Sergeant Harold Koehler. The second place team, also from the Wichita Police department, scored 1,014 points.
In 1963, the police records section recorded the 900,000th police case made since the beginning of modern record keeping.
There was a behind-the-scenes revolution that began changing the traditional image of the policeman as a fear symbol. Started in January, 1967, the Police-Community Relations Section was an attempt by then Chief Eugene Ponds to address what had been happening in other major cities, the escalation of racial tensions turned violent when aggravated through a specific police action, usually an arrest. The unit, in 1968, was headed by Major R. C. Jones and staffed by Sergeant Harold Peterson and Sergeant Richard LaMunyon. Training in this area increased greatly and a rookie in that time received 40 hours of training on good community relations. This was the first time the department recognized the great need for qualified police applicants from minority races and the section directed an intensive recruitment program.
A $42,000 budget transfer was authorized unanimously by city commissioners to provide for the immediate purchase of a helicopter by the Wichita Police Department. Annual maintenance costs were estimated to be about $31,000. Plans were to fly the helicopter about 1,000 hours per year. Maintenance and operation costs were estimated to be about $12 per hour.
December, 1969, saw a splash of color in the police fleet. For the first time Wichita Police purchased solid color police cars rather than the traditional black and white configuration. In this move, the department also eliminated the police shield decal which cost almost $20 per car and could not be transferred. Another factor in the decision to purchase solid colored vehicles was at trade-in time there was a loss of about $300 to $350 because of the old paint scheme. The trend in various solid colored cars was seen in other police departments and highway patrols across the country. Also with the change to a different color scheme came the first use of the “visi-bar” for red lights.
Also included in the History Book:
Police Officer’s Benefit Fund
Chemical Mace
The first Community Policing
Portable Radios
NCIC
WPD Air Section
New Police Car Colors
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