WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 to approve a $625,000 settlement over the police department’s gang list.
The ACLU, Kansas Appleseed, and Progeny claim the list unconstitutionally targets people of color.
All wanted the list gone, but the settlement will let the Wichita Police Department keep it and clarify the criteria used to put someone on it. The WPD will also have the create a method for the public to check if they are included on the list and allow the person to appeal it if they believe it is incorrect.
As part of the settlement, a special master will be engaged for a three-year period for the cost of $75,000. $550,000 will go toward attorney’s fees and costs, for the plaintiff.
As of 2022, Progeny, one of the organizations that filed the suit, said there were more than 5,000 names on Wichita’s gang list, representing a disproportionate number of Black and Hispanic individuals. Now, that list is expected to decrease by about 60%.
Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson said this reform is aimed at restoring trust between the community and its police department. A growing outcry for change.
“There was a lot of concern about the gang file,” said Johnson.
He said young people could be placed on the gang file simply for being at the same event as active gang members. Johnson added it’s something that he could’ve fallen victim to in his childhood.
“Growing up, a lot of my friends were Bloods or Crips, and though I never joined, I could’ve been labeled as an associate, that may have brought different attention blood me,” said Johnson.
He believes removing the associate category will prevent excessive court costs for someone who may have no criminal history.
“If you are a registered gang member and goes to court with you, your bail is automatically set at $50,000, and that’s something that really started my push for reform of the gang file,” said Johnson.
Removing the inactive category will also allow someone who has not taken part in gang activity for years to file an appeal, to get off the list.
People will also now have the ability to find out if they are listed on the gang file.
Progeny founder Marquetta Atkins-Woods said it’s a step toward clarity.
“Finally getting a settlement, and being able to have governance around how people are put on this list and transparency, for people to know they are actually on this list,” said Atkins-Woods.
A third party will be involved, making a report every six months to monitor if WPD is following through with the changes.
“Hopefully, this is a building block, or one step to us being able to start to build in a way that’s healthier,” said Atkins-Woods.
Johnson said there is some work to do internally, but the changes should be seen around July.
He hopes the WPD can be a voice for change at the state level.
Sale of city-owned property at 2220 East 21st Street
The council voted 5-1 with an abstention (Yes – Mayor, Tuttle, Hoheisel, Glasscock, Ballard; No- Johnston; Abstained – Johnson) to approve the sale of city-owned property at 2220 East 21st Street to Wichita Habitat for Humanity, Inc. for $682,500 cash. The property housed the former emergency homeless shelter until April 1.
Habitat intends to use the space for program offices and provide a warehouse for the construction program.
To watch the full council meeting, click here.
