Wichita police and sheriff’s office start emergency accident reporting amid COVID-19
The Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office have implemented the emergency accident reporting plan as coronavirus concerns have led to a stay-at-home order.
The reporting plan allows citizens in most traffic crashes to report the accident to officers without ever calling 911. The plan, also known as EARP, is commonly used when severe weather leads to an increase in crashes that strain emergency services.
Wichita Officer Charley Davidson said in a statement that the WPD activated EARP “to allow patrol officers to focus on priority calls, as well as to limit possible COVID-19 exposure during the investigation of traffic collisions.”
The move to emergency accident reporting follows a stay-at-home order by the Sedgwick County public health officer amid the coronavirus pandemic. The order goes into effect after midnight.
EARP applies to accidents without injuries, where alcohol or drugs are not suspected, that do not involve hit and run, and the vehicles can be moved. In these cases, drivers are to exchange driver’s license information, vehicle insurance information and vehicle information — year, make, model and tag number.
Changes in Wichita
A motor vehicle accident report can then be filled out online at wichitapolice.com or through the WPD app. Questions on traffic accidents should be directed to a WPD patrol station.
Unlike when EARP is implemented during severe weather, paper forms will not be available at gas stations or the east and west police stations. They will only be available at the Traffic Bureau, Patrol North and Patrol South for people who are unable to complete a form online.
In other measures, police are also triaging 911 calls on a case-by-case basis. If it is determined that an officer does not need to respond in person, the caller will be assisted by phone.
Police ask anyone who wishes to speak with law enforcement about an issue that does not require an emergency response or the need for an officer to respond to call a police station. Staffing at the police stations has been extended to 24/7.
Patrol North’s phone number is 316-350-3400, Patrol South’s is 316-350-3440, Patrol East’s is 316-350-3420, and Patrol West’s is 316-350-3460.
Changes in Sedgwick County
EARP forms are available at sedgwickcounty.org/sheriff under the COVID-19 tab.
The completed form needs to be emailed to sheriffcasedesk@sedgwick.gov, mailed to Sheriff Case Desk at 141 E. Elm in Wichita, KS 67203, or faxed to 316-383-7005. A list of documents needed to fill out the form can be found on the Sheriff’s Office website under the COVID-19 tab.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 1:57 PM.