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Record of Proceedings

City/County En Banc Meeting on Crime and Justice Issues - October 25, 2024

City Council — Friday, October 25, 2024
BodyWichita, Kansas
SessionCity Council
DateFriday, October 25, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

So we'll use one here.

0:06

But I mean as long as it gives the room is small enough in here.

0:26

Let's just remember to tell books that don't because I'm don't need a mic.

0:34

And I have just seen my pick up whatever.

0:41

Okay.

0:57

It's not test.

1:09

You're welcome.

1:10

Um I think your second up.

1:13

Uh when you present.

1:18

Um when you'll come up to the mic.

1:22

Um you know how to forward.

1:24

Sure.

1:25

And um then they'll have a panel QA here.

1:28

And make sure to use the mic.

1:30

You won't hear it in the room, but it is used for the live stream.

1:39

Uh I don't know what it is.

1:47

Yeah.

1:50

I think you will probably dismiss it.

1:55

Whether we require the other hole.

2:03

Yeah, I I don't believe that's fine.

2:50

Okay, actually, I think that's good.

3:29

This is a mechanism.

3:45

Yeah, I can just have all the time.

3:50

Okay, otherwise, okay.

3:58

So I'm okay now.

4:39

Yeah, I'm gonna use that.

5:19

Hello, one two and two.

5:33

What about now?

5:48

It's a big deal because it's a lot of course.

6:30

I mean, I'm still here, sorry.

6:34

I will think you're gonna be able to think we can do it.

6:46

Did you see our points in other words?

6:49

Which one is the share?

6:50

Yep, so it's all just before you portion of the presentation.

6:53

Okay, so now they're gonna be able to do that.

6:56

Well, you can all just switch to just switch to podium laptop.

7:02

Okay.

7:06

Yeah.

7:07

That's a lot easier than uh downloading that.

7:11

Sorry, it was all short.

7:18

Thank you so very, very much.

7:20

Yes, of course.

7:22

I appreciate it.

7:24

That was an easy one.

7:28

That'll all they have to do is plug it in and then choose podium laptop.

7:37

I'll tell you my opinion on it.

8:00

So I'll just get up here.

8:01

I'll even put this in present load.

8:04

Now, so it's ready to go.

8:09

For him.

8:11

I don't see my name on the case.

8:12

And then when you're done, you'll just go back to the same switch.

8:15

The only thing I need to make sure is that we're going to be able to do that.

8:23

Oh, you don't even have to open it.

8:28

Perfect.

8:30

Thank you so much.

8:45

Whatever you told them this exactly.

9:23

I think it's on your other side.

9:30

That's an old sure.

9:54

I have the standards.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████53%
Procedural████████10%
Mental Health Awareness████████9%
Technology and Innovation████5%
Public Works███3%
Education███3%
Court Procedures███3%
Public Engagement██2%
Homelessness██2%
Summary of Proceedings

City/County En Banc Meeting on Crime and Justice Issues - October 25, 2024

The City/County En Banc Meeting convened on October 25, 2024, at 1:03 p.m. and adjourned at 3:10 p.m., featuring presentations and discussions on crime trends, staffing, mental health, and systemic challenges across Sedgwick County and Wichita public safety agencies.

Discussion Items

Presentations by Public Safety Agencies

  • Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office (Colonel Brian White) reported the jail population at its lowest in 20 years (approximately 1,200 inmates), a 17% reduction in overdose deaths, and improved detention staffing from over 100 vacancies to 6 openings due to pay increases.
  • District Attorney Marc Bennett highlighted that homicides have returned to pre-COVID levels, the resolution docket processed 1,559 cases since January 2023 with a 78% resolution rate, and flagged a lawyer shortage (1,800 of 7,980 Kansas lawyers over age 60) and digital discovery burdens.
  • 18th Judicial District Court (Judge Goering and Joni Wilson-Colby) noted new judge positions and challenges with electronic pre-sentence investigation reports that could slow completion from 6 to 12 weeks, professional visitation at the jail, and a shortage of attorneys qualified for high-level cases.
  • Regional Forensic Science Center (Robert Hanson) reported a backlog of 900 cases in drug identification (down from 1,200-1,300), but toxicology is current; staffing turnover and training delays persist.
  • Department of Corrections/Community Corrections (Steve Stonehouse and Laura Gibbs) cited a 45% revocation rate, with 47% of alleged new felonies uncharged; lack of community-based juvenile programs and difficulty finding licensed oversight for batterers' intervention.
  • Wichita Police Department (Chief Joe Sullivan) reported violent crime down 24% for non-fatal shootings (five-year average), but shoplifting and auto theft up; officer shortage reduced to approximately 40 from 100; new technology including Raven gunshot detection (86% accuracy), Taser 10, and Axon cameras; property crimes task force recovered $500,000 in stolen property with 38 felony arrests.
  • Wichita Law Department (Sharon Dickgrafe) noted increased retail theft filings and expansion of driving-while-suspended diversion programs.
  • Wichita Municipal Court (Courtney Carpenter) reported therapeutic courts with 0% recidivism in 2022, the Wichita Area Restoration Program (WARP) assisting with license restoration (grew from 70 to over 190 visitors in one month), and challenges with co-occurring mental health and substance use.

Questions and Answers

  • Council Member Hoheisel raised mass shootings and school safety. Chief Sullivan emphasized interagency training (first live exercise in 2025), public reporting, and coordination with USD 259 and FBI.
  • Council Member Johnson queried AI for discovery. DA Bennett stated AI will augment human review, not replace it; discussions are ongoing.
  • Council Member Johnson asked about community-based program funding. Steve Stonehouse explained Team Justice funds require evidence-based practices, and grassroots organizations struggle to meet the bar; $1 million returned unspent annually.
  • Council Member Johnson and Chairman Baty discussed a potential law school satellite in Wichita, with KU open to the idea; DA Bennett noted nontraditional students.
  • Commissioner Howell inquired about driving while suspended. Municipal Court and Law Department reported implementing Senate Bill 127 (fine reductions) and preparing for Senate Bill 500 (restricted licenses) changes effective January 1, 2025.
  • Chairman Baty asked about the forensic backlog. Hanson clarified it is in drug ID, not toxicology; turnover causes delays.
  • Mayor Wu raised homelessness and mental health. Colonel White noted many inmates are indigent and connected to COMCARE; the Multi-Agency Center is seen as a future solution.
  • Council Member Hoheisel asked about batterers' intervention. Steve Stonehouse reported oversight challenges; Municipal Court offers free programs for indigent defendants.
  • Council Member Glasscock asked about fire department collaboration. Chief Sullivan praised Wichita Fire Department cooperation but suggested more inclusion in public safety conversations.
  • Vice Mayor Ballard asked about staffing retention. Multiple speakers cited improved wages as key, but training new hires remains burdensome.
  • Commissioner Dennis asked about discovery and records systems. DA Bennett said volume is the issue, not different systems; Chief Sullivan noted Axon RMS will improve integration.
  • Council Member Hoheisel asked about 911 staffing. County Manager Stolz reported 100% staffing, with 10 new positions approved early.
  • Council Member Hoheisel asked about CJ Lofton Task Force recommendations. Steve Stonehouse said most adopted; logistics for detention facility hardware still in progress.

Key Outcomes

  • The presentations and discussions were received and filed by the Sedgwick County Commission (motion carried unanimously).
  • Mayor Wu noted property crime and shoplifting as topics for future collaboration; Council Member Johnson expressed interest in eviction court issues.
  • No formal policy changes were adopted, but officials committed to continued partnership and resource allocation.

Meeting Transcript

So we'll use one here. But I mean as long as it gives the room is small enough in here. Let's just remember to tell books that don't because I'm don't need a mic. And I have just seen my pick up whatever. Okay. It's not test. You're welcome. Um I think your second up. Uh when you present. Um when you'll come up to the mic. Um you know how to forward. Sure. And um then they'll have a panel QA here. And make sure to use the mic. You won't hear it in the room, but it is used for the live stream. Uh I don't know what it is. Yeah. I think you will probably dismiss it. Whether we require the other hole. Yeah, I I don't believe that's fine. Okay, actually, I think that's good. This is a mechanism. Yeah, I can just have all the time. Okay, otherwise, okay. So I'm okay now. Yeah, I'm gonna use that. Hello, one two and two. What about now? It's a big deal because it's a lot of course. I mean, I'm still here, sorry. I will think you're gonna be able to think we can do it. Did you see our points in other words? Which one is the share? Yep, so it's all just before you portion of the presentation. Okay, so now they're gonna be able to do that. Well, you can all just switch to just switch to podium laptop. Okay. Yeah. That's a lot easier than uh downloading that. Sorry, it was all short. Thank you so very, very much. Yes, of course. I appreciate it. That was an easy one. That'll all they have to do is plug it in and then choose podium laptop. I'll tell you my opinion on it. So I'll just get up here. I'll even put this in present load. Now, so it's ready to go. For him.

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