Wichita’s interim police chief considers throwing in name for the top spot

Interim police chief Lem Moore is considering putting in his name for the top position.

Moore had originally planned to retire after Wichita officials filled the role. Moore said feedback from current and former officers and community leaders have edged him toward considering applying for the top spot.

The 52-year-old took over as interim chief March 1, succeeding former chief Gordon Ramsay who came from Duluth, Minnesota, and has since moved back there to run for sheriff.

“Bringing in a new person that doesn’t know that culture, that’s not homegrown, and coming in, trying to make Wichita (a) Duluth, or trying to make Wichita a Baltimore … it causes officers confusion and throws them into turmoil,” the East High School graduate said. “That unknown and that relearning process, right now they know who I am, they know how I lead.”

Moore was promoted from captain to deputy chief in January and then named the interim chief weeks later. Before he said he might apply, he said the process of finding a permanent chief could take a year.

The city has hired a search firm and is working with them to set parameters for a nationwide search, Wichita spokesperson Megan Lovely said.

The department recently has been under constant fire and criticism for problems that began before Moore’s tenure. Moore held back tears as he talked after The Eagle published a March 21 story detailing racist and inappropriate messages sent by Wichita officers and the light punishment given to them.

“I’m saddened,” Moore said then, “31 years with the Wichita Police Department, I have a couple more years left, and I’m ending on this note. Not good.”

The Eagle then reported Thursday how the department mishandled a case that led to the death of Cedric Lofton, a Black teenager.

Moore, a U.S. Marine veteran, has worked to put out fires while recovering from shoulder surgery due to an injury that happened when he hopped on a skateboard for the first time and tried to go off a ramp.

“There’s a lot that I am having to deal with that was not dealt with prior to me taking over … just employee issues, accountability, complete and thorough work,” he said.

When asked about problems Ramsay left behind, he said: “Ramsay did a good job of community support. Ramsay built bridges and he’s really good at communicating with people, but when it comes to internal things ... there were some things that were lacking and now they are being dealt with.”

He added: “I don’t think internally nothing’s been focused on, the actual officers’ welfare and health and mental stability, which is what would lead up to these types of texts and discouragement in the ranks ... to where a person would feel comfortable sending a meme like that.”

Moore said he didn’t know exactly what was going on in the officers’ minds when they sent the messages.

Moore, who is Black, said he’s had good discussions with community members including minorities, many of whom were outraged about the recent reports about the department’s handling of cases.

“They feel me,” he said about a recent discussion he had with Latinos and using a translator. “I feel where they are coming from. We live in a community where some people are tolerant, some people aren’t tolerant and they treat you a certain way because of the color of your skin and I’m not immune to that being a Black man and being a short Black man in our community, I’ve felt the brunt of people’s biases often and so I’m trying to be that voice for them.”

Cara Ledy, a retired USD 259 principal who goes to church with Moore, said she thinks he would be a good fit for the job.

“What I value and I’m impressed with is his integrity and his genuine love for his job and for Wichita,” she said. “When he talked about it, he’s excited to bring our community together and sit and listen to folks in Wichita, to be seen. He’s like invested, truly invested in Wichita and wanting it to be a prosperous location, a place where people can raise their kids and feel safe and have that cohesive and collective atmosphere.”

This story was originally published April 7, 2022 at 12:20 PM.