Parade to support local law enforcement scheduled for May 16

Business, church and other local leaders announced plans Monday for a parade to show support for local law enforcement agencies.

The parade is scheduled to begin at noon on May 16 starting at the Fallen Officer Monument at 500 N. Main.

“The Fraternal Order of Police lodge was contacted by local church and business leaders asking us what they could do to support local law enforcement,” said Sgt. Bart Brunscheen, executive board member of the Wichita Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5.

“We wanted a partnership with the community,” Brunscheen said. “We felt that having the community actually in the parade would allow citizens to show their support and allow law enforcement to work with and support the community.”

Churches, schools, neighborhood associations, businesses and nongovernmental organizations are invited to participate, Brunscheen said.

Larry Burks, a retired lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army and now first vice president of the Wichita Branch of the NAACP, said, “I want to take this opportunity to voice our support of the event. ... This expression of appreciation is needed from time to time.”

In one of his last actions as Wichita’s mayor on Monday, Carl Brewer said the parade was long overdue.

“I always thought this was something we should do as a community,” Brewer said. “We’ll be celebrating who we are and the quality of life we have. I invite everyone to come out, celebrate and get to know each other.”

For more information, contact organizers at 316-708-3600 or lawenforcementcommunityparade@gmail.com.

This story was originally published April 13, 2015 at 6:11 PM with the headline "Parade to support local law enforcement scheduled for May 16."