Wichita Police apprehended Dennis L. Rader, a 59-year-old Park City man, shortly after noon in Park City on February 25, 2005.

"This arrest is a defining moment for the Wichita Police Department and the law enforcement community. We are very proud of the men and women of this Department and owe a special thanks to the many agencies that assisted us during the course of this investigation," said Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams.

"Since BTK resurfaced in March 2004, we received more than 5,000 tips from the public. Our personnel have spent countless hours following up on these leads, and we could not be more pleased with the outcome," said Lt. Ken Landwehr, Commander of the Wichita Police Department Homicide Section.

In the ensuing months after BTK resurfaced, the Wichita Police Department received some harsh criticism from the media and the public for its handling of the investigation; particularly for the limited information the Department released during the investigation.

"This is the most intensive and complex investigation our Department has ever been involved in, and it took us in many different directions," said Chief Williams. "While I understand the media’s desire for information, it was my job to protect the integrity of the investigation and the Constitutional rights of those individuals being investigated."

Wichita Police developed a media protocol in March 2004 and adhered to it throughout the investigation. Lt. Kenneth Landwehr was designated as the sole spokesperson for the Department regarding the BTK investigation. Lt. Landwehr would periodically release information on the investigation by reading a scripted statement, and did not entertain questions.

"From the first BTK communication that we received in March 2004, our staff worked closely with the Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, VA, to craft media releases that would benefit the investigation and not prompt BTK to kill again," said Lt. Ken Landwehr. "Public safety was always our number one priority."

Chief Williams said that the BTK Investigation could not have been successful without the assistance of a number of other agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the District Attorney’s Office, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center, Social Security Administration, Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Secret Service. Congressman Todd Tiahrt and his staff were also instrumental in assisting by securing almost $1 million in funding through the 2005 Omnibus Bill.

The additional funding was critical to the successful capture of BTK. Throughout the BTK investigation, the Wichita Police Department devoted a substantial number of personnel and other resources to the task force. When BTK resurfaced, approximately 20 WPD personnel as well as two KBI personnel and two FBI personnel were assigned to the case on a full time basis. Tens of other employees worked on the case either intermittently or on a part-time basis.

The case will now go to Nola Foulston, the District Attorney, for prosecution.

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