Joint Law Enforcement Training Center Timeline

In an effort to correct inaccurate information that appeared in the Aug. 4 Wichita Eagle editorial, and to more accurately reflect the partnership of the two entities, Sedgwick County is providing a timeline of ongoing discussion between the City of Wichita and the county regarding the joint law enforcement training center (LETC). Steve Claassen, director of facilities, fleets and parks for Sedgwick County, presented the timeline (dates outlined below) during the “Other” portion of the regular Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners meeting on Aug. 5 to clarify what has been accomplished.

“All the hard work I know that you put in, as well as the staff over at the City of Wichita, we appreciate it,” said Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Richard Ranzau to Claassen and county staff members following the presentation. “This is our number one priority and we’re going to move forward and get this issue addressed.”

Commissioner Jim Howell said he believes the request for proposal (RFP) process will allow stakeholders to come together to evaluate needs and costs, and will finally bring a resolution to the issue of the LETC.

“We’ve lived with this problem long enough,” Howell said. “It’s time to get it fixed and I think this RFP process, with coordination with the city, with their input and with their agreement, we’re going to have the answer before us very soon.”

Joint Law Enforcement Training Center Timeline

May 14, 2015

• Meeting Location: Wichita City Hall
• Attending: Commission Chairman Richard Ranzau, Commission Chair Pro-Tem Karl Peterjohn, Mayor Jeff Longwell, and Vice Mayor James Clendenin
• Outcomes:
  • LETC is the number one priority for a City of Wichita/Sedgwick County project
  • Ranzau suggested Sedgwick County led request for proposal (RFP) process on behalf of both entities
  • Longwell agreed to speak to the City Manager Robert Layton

June 11, 2015

• Meeting Location: Sedgwick County Courthouse
• Attending: Ranzau, Peterjohn, Longwell and City Council member Pete Meitzner
• Outcomes:
  • Longwell and Meitzner said the city would support the county-led RFP process for LETC

June 17, 2015

• Meeting Location: Sedgwick County Courthouse
• Attending: Sedgwick County staff members Steve Claassen, Tania Cole and Joe Thomas, and City of Wichita staff members Denise Peters and Ricky Stubbs
• Outcomes:
  • Agreed that the Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office have processed together their program needs, which do not need to be revisited
  • City staff would work to refine and adjust program where needed
  • County staff would develop RFP language and process
  • RFP then sent to city and county stakeholders for review

July 16, 2015

• County staff received edited program from city staff
• Longwell was notified the draft would be sent for city stakeholder review July 27

July 21, 2015

• Draft RFP sent to county stakeholders for review and comments

July 28, 2015

• Draft RFP sent to city stakeholders for review and comments

Anticipated Next Steps

August 5, 2015 

• Requested date for City stakeholder feedback

August 7, 2015 

• Goal for RFP to be released for public distribution