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Wichita Police Department Chief Search

Search Overview

The City of Wichita has begun the search for the next Chief of the Wichita Police Department. Here is an overview of the search process that will be taking place over the coming months.

  • The City has hired Public Sector Search & Consulting (PSSC), an executive search firm, to oversee the search process.
  • A Review Committee made up of diverse community members has been convened to ensure representation throughout the search process, aid City staff, and interview candidates vetted by PSSC.
  • The search process will feature robust public engagement, with residents and internal/external stakeholders providing input via a series of focus groups, a community survey, and open dialogue on Forum, the City's online public engagement platform.
  • PSSC will collect, collate and review feedback to support the creation and development of a WPD Chief of Police Position Profile, which will be posted to begin recruitment efforts.
  • The Review Committee will review applicants and recommend semifinalist candidates for interview.
  • After initial interviews are completed, the Review Committee will advise the City Manager on final candidates for consideration, further interviews and final approval.
  • The search process is anticipated to be complete by fall 2022.


Wichita Police Candidates 

The search process identified nineteen candidates, of which five were internal. Seven of the nineteen were recommended as top candidates for the position by PSSC, and those were narrowed to five by the City Manager and Review Committee. 

One candidate withdrew from the search process, leaving four candidates for semi-finalist virtual interviews with the City Manager, City Leadership, and the Review Committee on September 29. Two candidates were selected as finalists for the onsite interview process during the week of October 10: Mario Knapp and Joseph Sullivan.

WPD Chief Candidates.png

Mario Knapp is a former Police Major who served on the Miami-Dade Police Department. He joined the department in 1994 and served for more than 26 years. He is currently an executive with a private public safety technologies company. 

Joe Sullivan is a former Deputy Commissioner of Patrol Operations for the Philadelphia Police Department, with more than 30 years of public safety experience. He currently works in business development for a private public safety equipment firm. 


WPD Chief Candidate Forum

There will be an opportunity for residents to meet the final WPD Chief candidates and ask questions at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11 in Lotus Hall at Botanica, 701 Amidon St. at a police candidate forum. 

Candidates in Wichita

During the week of the October 10, the candidates have had a busy schedule on site in Wichita, touring all of the police substations and meeting with internal and external stakeholders including: 

The racial profiling board
The local chapter of the NAACP
WPD leadership and command staff
WPD employees
The Fraternal Order of Police
The City Council
City Department heads
The community review committee
Public forum and meet and greet at Botanica 
Visit Wichita
The Greater Wichita Partnership
Local media

Joseph Sullivan Named Next Wichita Chief of Police

On October 18, the City of Wichita announced the appointment of Joseph Sullivan to serve as Wichita's next chief of police.

Read the official press release


Community Engagement

As part of the search and selection process for the next Police Chief for the City of Wichita, PSSC sought input from the community via a survey that was offered in English and Spanish. The survey closed on July 5 and feedback informed the WPD Chief of Police position listing. 

Public comment has been collected throughout the search process through focus groups and conversations on Forum, the City's public engagement platform at forum.wichita.gov.

Please continue to share any questions or comments relating to the WPD Chief Search on Forum, the City's public engagement platform, through October 16.


​WPD Police Chief Search Review Committee

A Review Committee made up of diverse community members has been convened to ensure representation throughout the search process, aid City staff with front-end processes, and interview candidates vetted by Public Sector Search & Consulting (PSSC).

Click to learn more about the individual Review Committee members:


Timeline

Specific dates to be determined.

WPD Chief Search Opens

May 2022

  • Public Sector Search & Consulting hired to oversee nationwide executive search
  • Review Committee convened

Community Engagement

Late May-July 2022

  • Stakeholder meetings/Focus Groups
  • Community Survey
  • Community conversations on Forum

Nationwide Recruitment

Late June-August 2022

  • WPD Chief of Police Position Posted
  • Initial candidate screening

August 26, 2022

  • Conclude recruiting and Initial Screening

Candidate Review

Mid September 2022

  • Initial candidates presented to Executive Leadership Team

Late September 2022

  • Virtual panel interviews for semi-finalist candidates

In-Person Finalist Process

Early October 2022

  • Meet with Review Committee
  • City Council Engagement Meetings
  • Live Community Forum 
    • October 11 at Botanica
  • Executive Team Meetings

Final Candidate Selection

Mid October 2022

  • Final approval
  • Position offered and accepted
  • Public announcement

October 18, 2022