| The Wichita Police Department was honored as a finalist for a the National Webber Seavey Law Enforcement Award.
The honor makes the department the first in Kansas to both finish as a finalist, and to have won it, according to the Association of Chiefs of Police and Motorola, sponsors of the award.
The Seavey award recognizes departments for innovative, community-based law enforcement programs. The Wichita Police Department was named a finalist for "integrating community policing in its investigation division."
Deputy Chief Stephen Cole served as commander of investigations in 1998 when the department began stressing community policing techniques to that division.
Using internal surveys, focus groups and data collections and other data, the department identified three goals:
- Restructuring the division so detectives have more time to interact with the community.
- Creating a professional environment and improve technology to improve investigations' case management efficiency.
- Implementing community policing strategies, such as putting victims in touch with support groups and working with citizens' organizations to solve crimes.
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