Billboard calls on citizens to report incidents of police racial profiling in Wichita
A billboard by I-135 and 17th that says “Warning Racial Profiling Zone” aims to help increase the reporting of police racial profiling in Wichita.
The number of racial profiling complaints reported by the Wichita Police Department to the Kansas Attorney General’s Office each year dropped off dramatically in the latest period. There were 10 complaints reported by Wichita police in the year ending June 30, 2021, 11 the next year and then one in the year that ended June 30, 2023.
Of those, 18 were unfounded, two were still being investigated and one doesn’t list a conclusion.
In the year that ended in mid-2023, an additional four complaints were reported directly to the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. Three were determined to be outside the authority of racial or other bias-based policing. One simply said no reply had been received.
Faith Martin, vice chair of the Racial Profiling Advisory Board that paid $1,000 for the billboard, says the numbers reported are low based on what they hear from others in the community.
“What we’re hearing is the same kind of mistrust that’s in the community regarding policing in general” affects people wanting to make a complaint, Martin said. “When we have so many complaints that come back as unfounded, and I’m not saying they weren’t unfounded … either it is being underreported or the investigations when they are reported maybe aren’t thorough … I think (the billboard) was just a call for us to get more data.”
In an email, Wichita police spokesperson Andrew Ford said the Wichita Police Department takes racial profiling very seriously and will “strive to address any concerns raised by our citizens”
“(WPD) is committed to ensuring fair and impartial policing practices within our community,” Ford said. “Chief (Joe) Sullivan is dedicated to fostering a culture within the department where the use of discretion and education are at the forefront of our engagement strategy. The department has been proactive in developing and implementing policies limiting pretext stops to ensure officers focus on safety concerns.”
He mentioned programs the department has done for years, including Lights On, which allows officers to give drivers a voucher to get their lights fixed, and Second Chance Thursday, which helps people with city warrants to set up a new court date.
“This combination of departmental culture, legislative action, training, transparency, community programs, and oversight illustrates a comprehensive and committed approach to eliminating racial profiling,” he said. “We are dedicated to fostering a relationship with the community we serve that prioritizes fairness, safety, and mutual respect.”
The police department has denied its Citizen Review Board’s request for racial profiling data.
The billboard says “share your story” and directs people to its website, racialprofilingwichitaks.com, where you can contact them or make a complaint.
The advisory board can also help walk you through making a complaint if you feel you’ve been profiled.
Since the billboard went up May 24, Martin said, they’ve heard from people about others reportedly being racially profiled. The digital ad will be removed by the end of June.
