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The police helicopter began regular patrol of the city skies on May 4, 1970. The department then acquired a second helicopter, another Hughes 300, which experienced a power failure on takeoff from Williams, Arizona, enroute to Wichita and was damaged. Pilot and Chief Kirkpatrick was not injured in the incident but spare parts had to be flown, along with mechanic/Sergeant Bob Cocking, to Arizona to make repairs.
Following a month trial period it was decided that police motorcycle officers would have their headlights on during daylight driving to improve visibility and safety of the officers. The Records Section of the police department began using a “micro-fiche” storage system for car tags and vehicle registrations, which greatly improved storage space problems.
A Crime Prevention Unit, one of the first in the nation, was started in February, 1972, and replaced the old Police-Community Relations Section. Assistance from the National Crime Prevention Institute at the University of Louisville was instrumental in setting up the new unit, which was headed by Captain Bobby Stout.
Chief Hannon announced the “Buzz with the Fuzz” program encouraging young men and women to ride with an officer to promote a better understanding between police and youth. In just two weeks after the program started, over 150 youth had signed up for a chance to ride in a police car and see what goes on.
The office of the chief of police received a petition signed by 29 officers requesting consideration be given toward accepting a mustache as part of the regulatory appearance of an officer. A “pilot program” ordered the officers who signed the petition to grow mustaches. Charles Franklin, Patrolman, was named as Acting Commander of the Mustache Squad and was required to submit a weekly report to the office of the Chief of Police reporting the growth of each mustache, color of each mustache and length of each mustache of each man in the squad.
The Planning and Research Unit, designed to study long-range management and operational functions of the department, was started in 1973. The department also established a storefront operation in Northeast Wichita in an effort to improve relations with minority communities. Captain Robert Peach, highest ranking black officer on the department, coordinated the storefront operation.
The CBS Network began filming a series on nationwide innovations in crime prevention. The Crime Prevention Unit of the Wichita Police Department was considered “one of the best in the country.” This was an example of how the police department was beginning to prevent crime by establishing a rapport with the community.
The black and white police car returned to the streets. It was believed that the traditional color scheme was more readily identifiable to citizens.
Back is the day of the billy club. Batons, eliminated seven years ago when mace was issued, returned to the gunbelts of police as assaults on officers and resist arrest cases continued to increase. The chemical aerosol did not prove effective as originally thought and to carry a baton was viewed as a “quiet threat.”
A sniper on the 26th floor of the Holiday Inn Plaza Wednesday shot and killed two men, wounded seven other persons and sent dozens more diving for cover in downtown Wichita.
In July, 1978, members of the Fraternal Order of Police overwhelmingly rejected Wichita’s latest salary offer.Later, twenty-six police officers began a “sickout” and were immediately suspended by Chief LaMunyon.
Also included in the History Book:
Police Air Section
SCAMP
Crime Prevention Unit
O.W. Wilson Passes
Planning & Research Unit
Police Helicopter Crashes
The Tower Sniper
Police Strike
Herman Hill Riot |