Forum gives Wichita community an opportunity to meet and interview police chief finalists

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – For the first time, two chief finalists from the Wichita Police Department had the opportunity to meet and engage members of the community. With Tuesday night’s forum at Botanica, Mario Knapp and Joseph Sullivan answered questions from the community they hope to serve.

“(We) really took a deep dive into this, so we’re thrilled the community is getting this chance because it’s us together who are selecting our next Chief Constable. And so we really want the community to come out and ask the questions they would like to know about each candidate and the direction they would go within the Wichita Police Department,” said Ariel Rodriguez, Empower Executive Director and member. of the research committee.

Wichita Police Foundation board chairman and search committee member Harvey Sorenson said Knapp and Sullivan performed well “in a very professional interview setting.”

“They were never exposed in Wichita to our citizens asking questions,” Sorenson said.

Members of the search committee to find Wichita’s next permanent police chief say Knapp and Sullivan are qualified to lead the WPD. Both have decades of experience in leadership positions in two major cities in the eastern United States.

After more than 25 years of service, Knapp retired from the Miami Dade Police Department in 2021 with the rank of major. He then served as vice president of training for Wrap Technologies, which manufactures specialty restraint systems for law enforcement use. He also led a tactical rappel training company.

Sullivan served more than 20 years as the Philadelphia Police Department’s deputy commissioner before retiring in 2020. He also runs a charity to support the families and children of deceased first responders. After leading the Philadelphia Police Department, Sullivan works for a company selling body armor and personal protective equipment.

Rodriquez and Sorenson said Knapp and Sullivan’s credentials are what separated them from the pack. Now it’s about how they interact with the people of Wichita.

Rodriguez said he was interested to know how each candidate plans to represent various communities in Wichita.

“Wichita has a lot of different assets, different people in living environments, so I want to better understand how they bring these communities together,” he said.

Sorenson said he wanted to see feedback from Knapp and Sullivan on how they handle the challenges ahead and how they will respond to community interest.

“I’m very interested,” he said.

Among the questions the candidates asked on Tuesday was how each would combat violence, especially with young people, in Wichita.

“I promote de-escalation. I’m also promoting a force avoidance framework and that’s what we’re going to try to push forward,” Knapp said.

Sullivan said he would make it a point to personally meet with residents of the city’s neighborhoods.

“I will be in every neighborhood of this city, for roundtables, forums like this, to meet with the community so you can tell me what my priorities should be,” he said.

At Tuesday’s forum, some wondered how each candidate would handle challenges within the police department and city management that have come to light over the past year.

“It will be nothing more than one meeting, listening to intelligence gathering, several days to find out what is going on,” Knapp said.

Sullivan indicated that he could look back on his past experiences to take on new challenges.

“Whatever problem I have in Wichita, I probably have it, or one of my colleagues handled it in Philadelphia and I can always go back,” he said.

Knapp and Sullivan come from cities larger than Wichita, but both say they want to use their experiences to lead the city.

“I look forward to working in a department that has challenges, which will take work to resolve,” Sullivan said. “I think the experience I gained over many years in Philadelphia gives me the experience I need to meet these challenges.”

Knapp also stressed responsibility.

“I want you to hear me giving this same message all the time, so later on you can hold me accountable for this message and I think that’s what needs to happen,” he said.