Sedgwick County sheriff’s detective on paid leave after ‘improper case closures’

A Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detective in the exploited and missing children’s unit has been put on paid leave after a “review revealed improper case closures and a failure to thoroughly investigate criminal complaints from 2019 to 2024,” sheriff’s office spokesperson Branden Stitt said Wednesday.

In late December 2024, the sheriff’s office did an administrative review of the detective’s cases after “identifying potential issues,” Stitt said in a news release. The sheriff’s office handed over the case to the Wichita Police Department — as part of department policy to have a more independent look at the case — after “determining that criminal conduct may have occurred,” Stitt said.

Investigators with EMCU, which is a collaborative effort that also involves WPD and Kansas Department for Children and Families, “will re-contact individuals involved in these cases,” he said.

“These trauma-informed and trained professionals will ensure each case undergoes a thorough review,” Stitt staid. “Upon completing the criminal investigation, WPD will present the findings to the appropriate charging authority for formal charging consideration. The detective, who was assigned to EMCU in 2019 and transferred to ( Internet Crimes Against Children) in 2021, is currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of both the criminal investigation and an internal review.”