Sedgwick County’s message during COVID-19: See something, say nothing

Sedgwick County Commissioners didn’t want a “snitch line” for residents to report violations of public health orders intended to limit the spread of COVID-19.

On Wednesday they doubled down on abdication — and likely increased pressure on the county’s 911 system — by not giving residents any clear avenue for questions or complaints about ongoing orders.

At a time when people may be confused about what’s allowed, threatened by a neighbor’s behavior or worried that a business isn’t playing by the rules, the community needs clear direction and leadership.

The commission’s inaction showed neither.

County Manager Tom Stolz proposed a reasonable way to handle calls about health rules laid down by Gov. Laura Kelly on April 30. He suggested posting a list of non-emergency phone numbers for Wichita-area law enforcement agencies and encouraging residents to call those numbers with complaints.

That’s what Johnson County officials did: A clear, simple blurb on their website points people to non-emergency phone numbers and email addresses and further urges, “DO NOT CALL 911.”

And it’s what Sedgwick County officials have done numerous times in the past to reroute complaints about illegal fireworks. For nearly a decade, the county has activated a non-emergency line around the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve to reduce the number of calls to 911.

But now, when residents clearly have lots of concerns about what is or isn’t allowed under a statewide order designed to protect public health, Sedgwick County leaders punted.

Their message: See something, say nothing.

It could be that local leaders simply don’t want to enforce the governor’s order. That’s not an option.

Commissioners Jim Howell, Michael O’Donnell and David Dennis repeatedly have said they trust residents and businesses to do the right thing and police themselves, and they suggested directing local compliance calls to Kelly’s office in Topeka.

That’s not helpful or practical, and it abdicates local government’s responsibility to uphold state laws. If someone wants to report a suspected drunk driver, would we have them call the state legislators who approved the drunk-driving laws?

Dennis and Commissioner Pete Meitzner supported Stolz’s recommendation Wednesday, proposing that the governor’s office also be listed among numbers residents would be directed to call. That vote failed 3-2.

Residents with legitimate concerns about a pandemic shouldn’t be demonized as “snitches,” and those with questions about what’s allowed or how to proceed in this confusing new era shouldn’t be ignored or passed off to other jurisdictions.

After Wednesday’s action, more residents might start calling 911 with concerns that should have been routed elsewhere. Let’s hope those calls don’t prevent critical emergency calls from getting through.

In the meantime, commissioners should consider guiding the public and offering specific help, not shrugging and hoping for the best.

This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 5:20 PM.