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Wichita Police to apply for federal COPS hiring grant for downtown team; council authorizes application
Summary
Captain Aaron Moses proposed applying for a DOJ COPS Hiring Program award to fund up to 50 entry-level patrol positions focused on downtown and the Broadway corridor; council unanimously authorized the department to submit the application while asking for a detailed plan before accepting any award.
The Wichita Police Department asked city council permission on July 12 to apply for the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program, seeking funding for up to 50 entry-level commissioned officer positions to create a downtown area response team.
Captain Aaron Moses said the team would be based in the central bureau, use alternative patrol methods (foot, bike, ATVs) to improve visibility and reduce the need to pull officers from outlying bureaus, and support coverage for large events such as NCAA tournament games and Riverfest. Moses said the grant pays 75% of entry-level officer salaries and benefits for three years; the city covers 25% during the award period and must fund retention after that period. He described staggered hiring as the department's preferred approach to limit near-term local costs.
Council members raised long-term affordability questions: if the federal award fully funds 50 positions, the unfunded retention cost in later years could reach several million dollars, depending on hiring pace and annual salary inflation. Several council members asked the police department to return with a detailed acceptance plan before the council would vote to accept any award. "We would absolutely not decline an award just because it was not 50," Captain Moses said, adding the department could scale implementation to match an actual award and timing.
Public testimony included voices both supporting the application and urging caution about later budget impacts. The Fraternal Order of Police urged applying and noted recent vacancy reductions; other speakers asked for clear data and long-term cost plans.
Council action: the council voted 7-0 to authorize WPD to submit the FY2026 COPS hiring grant application. This vote authorized staff to apply only; acceptance of any award would require a subsequent council vote with a plan for the local match and related obligations.
