A ‘visible commitment’ to west Wichita as city leaders break ground on police bureau
At the southwest corner of Country Acres and 13th Street North, neatly lined shovels, white hard hats and a mound of loose dirt stood in for something bigger, police Chief Joe Sullivan said.
“We aren’t just moving dirt,” Sullivan said. “We’re breaking ground on a new chapter for the Wichita Police Department and for West Wichita.”
Wednesday’s groundbreaking for the new Wichita Police Department Patrol West Bureau marked more than the start of construction on an $11 million facility, city leaders said.
They framed the first ceremonial shovelfuls of dirt as a long-awaited investment in safety, trust and visibility for west Wichita while giving the Patrol West team a bureau that matches the demands of the job.
The new bureau will be built at 8165 W. 13th St. N., near Wichita Northwest High School, on land purchased from Wichita Public Schools.
“When we have celebratory events like today, they don’t happen in vacuums,” Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said. “Seeing the collaborative efforts between the city of Wichita, Wichita Public Schools and the greater community come together is the reason these events signify that Wichita is a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
She said the new bureau — and its proximity to Northwest High — will strengthen the department’s ability to serve west Wichita.
“Its location, right here at Northwest High School … reinforces a simple truth: Safe communities create the foundation for opportunity,” she said.
Since the early 1990s, the Patrol West Bureau has operated out of a facility on Central near Interstate 235, where it shared space with the Wichita Fire Department. The limited space and resources, Sullivan said, made it difficult at times for officers to conduct modern police work. The new bureau will offer improved facilities and, he said, better policing for the surrounding neighborhoods.
“To the men and women of the Wichita Police Department …. For a long time, you’ve done professional work in spaces that didn’t always match the job,” Sullivan said. “This building is for you … When you have the right spaces and the right tools, the community benefits. It means faster coordination. It means stronger day-to-day operations.”
District 5 Councilman J.V. Johnston echoed that sentiment. Johnston, who was elected to the council the same year the city approved the land purchase for the bureau, emphasized the years of collaboration and planning it took before shovels could move dirt.
“They say good things come to those who wait,” Johnston said. “In city leadership, good things come to those who plan, persist and partner … Projects like this don’t just happen by accident. They happen because we choose to lead, and we choose to make public safety a priority.”
Johnston and Sullivan described the bureau as a “visible commitment” to West Wichita residents.
“This isn’t just about a building,” Johnston said. “It’s about trust. It’s about response times. It’s about officers knowing the neighborhoods they serve and neighbors knowing the people behind the badge.”
This story was originally published February 18, 2026 at 7:19 PM.
