WPD began implementing community policing in 1994 and has been nationally recognized for its beneficial community policing initiatives. The department has community policing officers assigned to beat areas throughout the city. The Community Policing Teams operate throughout Wichita in their respective beat areas and with beat officers to identify crime trends. These officers build relationships with residents, businesses, and stakeholders to help address those crime trends.
However, community policing is an expected responsibility of every member of WPD and is embraced in our mission statement. WPD strongly affirms the need for continued and improved community policing opportunities. Police officers need time to build healthy, trusting relationships, and it requires sufficient staffing for community policing efforts to be successful. Community policing isn’t a policy, but rather is a practiced philosophy and the responsibility of all WPD members.
