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Police chief outlines expansion of drones, analytics and training; council presses on staffing and privacy
Summary
Wichita Police Chief presented a technology-forward plan — drones, Spot robotics, gunshot detection, real-time information center and data-driven deployment — and council members asked about staffing studies, vendor vetting and privacy safeguards; chief said many tools are grant-funded.
Wichita Police Chief Sullivan (speaker 2) gave the council a wide-ranging briefing on the department's 21st-century policing strategy, emphasizing de-escalation training, accreditation, officer wellness and an expanding technology portfolio.
The chief described a suite of tools the department is using or testing: gunshot-detection dashboards (with verified alert statistics), tactical and DFR drones used as first responders, Spot robotics for high-risk entries and negotiations, expanded body-worn cameras, in-car cameras, and a real-time information center (ARCTIC/FUSIS) to integrate camera feeds, license-plate readers and live analytics. "This is about procedural justice... so that we all go home," he said while describing Spot and de-escalation goals.
Council asked for details on vendor vetting, cybersecurity and data-sharing agreements. Captain Aaron Moses (speaker 21) described procurement checks, outreach to peer agencies and CJIS controls; staff said the Flock license-plate system includes contract language asserting that image data belong to the Wichita Police Department and that access is audited. The chief said many technology purchases were grant-funded and that the department will not cede control of the systems or give federal access outside agreed contracts.
Members pressed on staffing levels and an independent staffing study; the chief and captain said a 2017 staffing study had partial implementation, that authorized staffing is 700 commissioned officers but vacancies remain, and recommended an updated staffing or public-safety study to align goals and staffing needs.
Council members raised privacy and equity concerns; staff said policies were drafted with input from national peer networks and civil-society reviews, and that access controls and audit logs are in place. Staff promised to continue public engagement on policy and to return with more data as requested.
