As Wichita police response times have slowed, which areas have been affected most?
Over the years, the South and East police bureaus in Wichita have averaged the worst response times overall and on calls deemed an emergency, according to The Eagle’s analysis of calls.
The North Bureau has averaged the best response times on all calls and top priorities, followed by the West Bureau.
South Bureau’s average response times on all calls increased 138% from 11 minutes and 46 seconds in 2012 to 27 minutes and 58 seconds in 2022. East Bureau, meanwhile, saw a 63% increase from 17 minutes and 9 seconds to 27 minutes and 53 seconds.
East Bureau’s beat 39, which includes the area around 21st and Webb and extends out east to Andover, had the worst average response time of any beat on all calls and priority E from 2012 to 2022.
Police changed a beat prior to 2012, so it’s not possible to compare beats before then.
The East and South bureaus also have the highest call volume and the highest number of calls about violent crimes, according to a 2021 survey done by Wichita State University. The East Bureau roughly covers a 45-degree angle to the northeast from I-135 and Kellogg and everything east of that, including southeast Wichita.
The South Bureau generally covers most of downtown and south-central Wichita.
The North Bureau has averaged the best average response times. But they are rising as well.
North Bureau’s average priority E response times climbed 50%, from 6 minutes and 8 seconds in 2012 to 9 minutes and 14 seconds in 2022. And overall response times grew roughly 80%, from 11 minutes and 50 seconds to 21 minutes and 14 seconds.
North Bureau’s average time on all calls in 2022 was nearly seven minutes faster than the East and South bureaus. The North Bureau covers a sprawling area of north Wichita spanning from the Brooks Landfill on the west to Jabara Airport on the east.
The West Bureau averaged the second best average response times on all calls and top priorities. The West Bureau covers from the Arkansas River on the east to the Goddard city limit on the west.
West Bureau’s beat 15, bounded by 13th, Maple, the Big Ditch and roughly West Street, had the best average response time across all calls from 2012 to 2022. That beat tied for second in average priority E response time from 2012 through 2022.
The beat with the best average response times on priority E calls was North Bureau’s beat 44, which contains the bureau’s police station near 21st and Hillside.
Contributing: Amy Renee Leiker of The Wichita Eagle
