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Resident urges more rural patrols and noise ordinance review
Summary
Bruce Fitzwater told commissioners his unincorporated Salem Township neighborhood receives little patrol coverage and asked the county to pursue a noise ordinance and more sheriff engagement; commissioners said they are exploring countywide options and will involve the sheriff's office.
A southern Sedgwick County resident told the commission that unincorporated areas are understaffed for patrol and asked the county to address noise and late-night off-road-vehicle activity.
"I live on what's commonly known as the Belt Plain Baja Freeway ... in Salem Township where we get no police protection whatsoever and I repeat, no patrols," Bruce Fitzwater said during the public-agenda period. Fitzwater said four-wheelers, side-by-sides and dirt bikes run roads and fields at night; he asked about a county noise ordinance.
Commissioner Sarah Lopez and Commissioner Howell responded that the county is examining what a countywide noise ordinance could look like, including mechanisms for the sheriff's office to enforce it for event centers and other amplified-noise sources. Commissioner Howell noted enforcement challenges in rural areas and said county authority does not extend to directing the elected sheriff's day-to-day patrol deployment, but that the commission can request stepped-up enforcement and will facilitate direct contact between the resident and the sheriff's office.
Chair asked staff to ensure the sheriff has Fitzwater's contact information so the issues can be discussed directly. Commissioners said the topic will be part of ongoing conversations with the sheriff and a future noise-ordinance review.
