Wichita Police Department: Address, Phone Number, Division, County

The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Wichita, Kansas. The department provides emergency response, uniformed patrol, criminal investigations, traffic and accident services, community policing, school-resource services, crime-scene support, records, victim assistance, property and evidence management, and other specialized police functions across the city.

For a crime in progress or an emergency requiring immediate police response, call 911. The department main line is 316-268-4111. Non-emergency incidents that do not require an officer at the scene may often be reported by telephone through the WPD Case Desk at 316-268-4221, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Wichita Police Department Quick Information

Wichita Police Department Address

The main police administrative location is:

• 455 N. Main Street, 4th Floor, Wichita, KS 67202
• Phone: 316-268-4111

The department is headquartered inside Wichita City Hall. Administrative offices generally operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Patrol response, the Case Desk and other emergency law-enforcement functions continue outside normal City Hall business hours.

Residents may contact WPD for matters such as:

• Reporting crimes or suspicious activity
• Requesting police assistance
• Making eligible non-emergency reports by telephone
• Obtaining incident or accident records
• Asking about an investigation
• Reporting neighborhood traffic concerns
• Recovering property when legally releasable
• Submitting an employee complaint or compliment
• Seeking victim assistance or community-policing support

Wichita Police Department Organization

WPD is organized around three major operating divisions, along with Professional Standards and other department-wide functions:

• Field Services Division
• Investigations Division
• Support Services Division
• Professional Standards Bureau

Field Services Division

The Field Services Division contains the department’s uniformed personnel and is responsible primarily for 911 response, patrol coverage and immediate police service. It is organized into five bureaus: Patrol North, Patrol South, Patrol East, Patrol West and the Central Bureau.

Field Services also includes Community Response Teams that conduct proactive crime-reduction work and School Resource Officers assigned to area high schools.

Typical field-services responsibilities include:

• Responding to emergency and routine calls for service
• Conducting preliminary investigations
• Securing crime scenes and protecting victims
• Enforcing criminal and traffic laws
• Making arrests when legally appropriate
• Preparing incident and accident reports
• Conducting proactive patrol and crime-reduction activity
• Supporting schools and community-policing programs

Wichita Police Patrol Substations

Reports can also be made at WPD patrol substations. The city states that patrol substations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Investigations Division

The Investigations Division conducts follow-up investigations of crimes against persons and property. Cases may be forwarded from patrol or the Police Case Desk and are reviewed to determine the appropriate investigative follow-up. The division can be contacted at 316-268-4407.

Major investigative components include:

• Crimes Against Persons Bureau
• Property Crimes Bureau
• Special Investigations Bureau
• Technical Services Bureau
• Victims Assistance Unit

1. Crimes Against Persons Bureau

This bureau handles serious crimes against people. Its sections include homicide, felony assault, sex crimes and domestic violence, exploited and missing children, and robbery or accident follow-up functions.

2. Property Crimes Bureau

The Property Crimes Bureau investigates burglary, larceny, financial crime and auto theft cases. Investigators work to identify offenders, recover stolen property and prepare cases for prosecution when sufficient evidence exists.

3. Special Investigations Bureau

The Special Investigations Bureau investigates drug, vice and related offenses. Its work includes narcotics cases, illegal gambling complaints, liquor-law violations and other specialized investigations.

4. Technical Services Bureau

Technical Services provides crime-scene investigation, physical-evidence recognition, collection and preservation, evidence examination and other forensic support. Crime-scene personnel assist with serious crimes and cases requiring specialized evidence-processing skills.

Victims Assistance Unit

The Victims Assistance Unit is part of the Investigations Division and provides support to crime victims. Services can include crisis intervention, advocacy, education, information, referrals, safety planning and guidance about legal rights and victim compensation.

Support Services Division

The Support Services Division manages many of the administrative, records, training and logistical functions required for police operations. The division is based at City Hall and can be contacted at 316-268-4151.

Support-services functions include areas such as:

• Administrative Services Bureau
• Records Bureau
• Training Bureau
• Warrant-related services
• Fingerprint and identification support
• Police records management
• Impounded-vehicle records
• Special police information and data services

Filing a Wichita Police Report

Call 911 for a crime in progress or an emergency. Some non-emergency incidents that do not require an officer at the scene can be reported by telephone through the Case Desk at 316-268-4221. The Case Desk operates 24 hours a day.

Telephone reports are appropriate when there is no suspect present, no evidence that requires collection and no immediate need for an officer to prevent a crime from occurring.

Examples of reports that may be handled by the Case Desk include:

• Auto theft without suspect information or evidence
• Gas run-off complaints
• Disorderly conduct reports
• Certain larceny reports without evidence
• Lost property reports
• Lost license-tag reports
• Fraud reports
• Harassing or disorderly phone-call reports
• Runaway reports
• Vandalism reports

An officer should be requested when the situation involves immediate danger, a suspect at the scene, evidence that needs to be collected or another circumstance requiring on-site police action.

Motor Vehicle Accident Reports

WPD provides a separate process for motor-vehicle accident reports. The city also offers an online form for certain non-injury accidents, including qualifying crashes on public streets or private parking lots within Wichita. Serious crashes, injuries and immediate traffic hazards should be reported directly to emergency services.

Obtaining a Wichita Police Report

The Records Bureau manages Wichita police records and provides public access to releasable records under applicable law. Central Records can be contacted at 316-268-4186. Walk-in records service is generally available Monday through Friday during business hours.

The city provides an Open Records Request process for incident reports, accident records, Axon footage and other police documents. Accident reports can also be purchased through the designated accident-report service.

When requesting a record, it is helpful to provide:

• Police incident or case number
• Date and approximate time
• Location of the incident
• Names of involved persons
• Type of record requested
• Requester contact information

Some information may be withheld or redacted when release is restricted by Kansas law, an active investigation, privacy protections or another legal exemption.

Property and Evidence

The Property and Evidence Section is responsible for the custody of evidence, found property and personal property submitted to WPD. Its work includes receiving, processing, storing, tracking and legally disposing of property, as well as returning property to rightful owners when release is authorized.

Property connected to an active criminal case may remain in police custody for an extended period. Release depends on the type of case, applicable statutes, investigative needs and authorization from the appropriate legal authority.

Impounded Vehicles

The Records Bureau maintains records for vehicles impounded by WPD and sends required notifications to vehicle owners. The city lists 316-268-4303 and 316-268-4396 for impounded-vehicle matters. WPD also provides an online search option for locating an impounded vehicle.

Complaints About Wichita Police Employees

Complaints about police employee conduct can be raised with an immediate supervisor or bureau commander. More serious complaints may be referred to the Professional Standards Bureau for a formal investigation.

People who want to make a complaint directly to Professional Standards should call 316-268-4256 to arrange an appointment. Complaints handled by Professional Standards are generally taken in person and documented through an interview and complaint affidavit.

A useful complaint should include as much detail as possible:

• Date and approximate time
• Exact location
• Employee name or description if known
• Badge or police-vehicle information if available
• Police case or citation number
• Names of witnesses
• Photographs, recordings or other supporting material
• A clear description of what occurred

What County Is Wichita Police Department In?

The Wichita Police Department is located in Sedgwick County, Kansas. WPD is a municipal police agency serving the City of Wichita and is separate from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office operates the county detention system. People arrested by WPD who require continued detention may be transferred into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.

Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Bureau operates the county’s primary adult detention facility at:

• Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility
  
• 141 W. Elm Street, Wichita, KS 67203
• Detention Administration: 316-660-0900

The Detention Bureau operates 24 hours a day and manages secure housing, inmate services and related correctional functions. The county also provides an online inmate-search system for people currently in Sheriff custody.

Once a detainee has been transferred into Sedgwick County custody, questions about inmate location, visitation, housing or release should be directed to the Sheriff’s Office rather than Wichita Police Records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Wichita Police Department main phone number?

A: The main Wichita Police Department number is 316-268-4111. Call 911 for emergencies or a crime in progress.

Q: How do I make a non-emergency Wichita police report?

A: For incidents that do not require an officer at the scene, call the 24-hour Case Desk at 316-268-4221. Reports can also be made at patrol substations during their published weekday hours.

Q: Where is the Wichita Police Department located?

A: The main administrative offices are at 455 N. Main Street, 4th Floor, Wichita, Kansas 67202.

Q: How do I request a Wichita police report?

A: Contact Central Records at 316-268-4186 or use the City of Wichita Open Records Request process for eligible police documents.

Q: Does Wichita Police operate the county jail?

A: No. WPD is a city police agency. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office operates the Adult Detention Facility at 141 W. Elm Street in Wichita.