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Residents urge Sedgwick County to act if civil verdict finds for Cedric Lofton; commissioners acknowledge concerns
Summary
During public comment Feb. 4, residents including Faith Martin and Wanda de Shazer urged the county to consider terminating staff if a civil verdict favors the Lofton family and to make changes at juvenile facilities such as adding body cameras; commissioners accepted public comment.
Multiple residents addressed the Sedgwick County Commission during the Feb. 4 public‑comment period about the civil trial involving Cedric Lofton, urging swift accountability and facility changes if the jury rules for the plaintiff.
Faith Martin, a District 5 resident who has followed the trial, told the board that community members have attended the trial and that potential county liability and public trust require action. "Please consider that…we would like a speedy end to this and we would like to see justice," Martin said, urging the commission to consider the cost to taxpayers and the possibility of firing involved staff if the civil case is decided in favor of the Lofton family.
Wanda de Shazer, a youth mentor who said she had watched trial footage, urged the county to improve protections in juvenile facilities — suggesting sound improvements and body cameras to prevent future harm. "Cedric Lofton's hopes and dreams will never be realized. He was one of our vulnerable that needed help, and we failed him," she said.
Board response: Commissioners heard the comments and later moved to receive and file public comment. No formal direction to staff or binding hiring or termination action was taken at the meeting; any personnel action would follow internal personnel and legal processes.
— Article provenance: public-comment presentations began SEG 151 and the board moved to receive and file comments at SEG 282–294.
