Recently, Sedgwick County commissioners held a rare and historic joint meeting with the Wichita City Council.  I am proud to say that both governing bodies unanimously agreed to support the best models for public safety training. 

Although Sedgwick County and Wichita Law Enforcement agencies have trained together for more than three decades, their training facility has remained woefully inadequate. The old joint law enforcement training center is simply an old 1950’s elementary school that has never been updated. At least it provides some opportunity for the police and sheriff deputies to train together. Regardless, it is way too small, it is in horrible disrepair, and is unhealthful and unsafe in many ways.  Clearly, providing an adequate facility for law enforcement training is a problem that commissioners and council members have needed to prioritize.  

Thankfully, we worked with our partner to develop an agreement to deliver a real solution. After 17 years of talk and no commitment to a solution, we finally solved this need.  In the end, the city and the county agreed to equally invest in a brand new, state-of the-art facility on the Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus.  This is great news but this was not the only public safety training we needed to solve. 

Commissioners have recognized the fact that the County Firefighters have never had an adequate place to train. SCFD has had to go out of the county to do practice burns and mostly train in parking lots and on playground equipment.  Thankfully, the City of Wichita graciously offered a second public safety training agreement. This agreement was for SCFD to have perpetual opportunities to train in the City’s Regional Fire Training Center. Training alongside the Wichita Fire Department in their RFTC will enhance the safety and skill set of the firefighters as well as provide the best possible public safety for the community.

I am thankful that the City and the County are working together to develop some common-sense solutions. These two momentous and unanimous votes are great for our community. We want the community to benefit from a robust public safety system that is as great as possible.  Jointly training in 21st century facilities delivers the best combination of services to protect the firefighters and law enforcement professionals but also provide the highest level of safety services to the citizens of our community.  Everybody can celebrate a win-win! 

Governing Body of Fire District 1 approved an agreement with the City of Wichita allowing Fire District 1 formal training opportunities at the Wichita Regional Fire Training Center. This agreement means that SCFD firefighters no longer need to train in our area parks or empty parking lots. By jointly training, Wichita and Sedgwick County firefighters will be better prepared to work together. 

Sedgwick County Commissioners also approved a letter of intent with the City of Wichita to proceed with a joint law enforcement training center on Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus. This project will replace the aging joint law enforcement training center that is currently used by the Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff. 

Sedgwick County joined their partners, WSU and City of Wichita, to share the upcoming project with the public at a briefing on May 24. 

Watch the en banc meeting here.  

Sedgwick County Treasurer Linda Kizzire hosted County Commissioners and several state officials including Secretary Robin Jennison (Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism) and Secretary Nick Jordan (Kansas Department of Revenue)  yesterday at a ribbon cutting event for the new tag office at 2525 W. Douglas.   This tag office will replace the one located at 200 W. Murdock St. which has been in need of replacement for some time.   The new office will open for business on Monday, June 6th at noon.   The office’s regular hours will be Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. starting June 7, 2016.