The Wichita Police Department announced a new focused deterrence strategy to prevent violent crime in the city.
Captain John Stephens presented the Wichita Ceasefire Initiative to the city council during a workshop Tuesday.
The program will focus on youth offenders under the age of 20, who make up 25 percent of fatal and non-fatal shooting incidents. Offenders would receive concentrated attention from law enforcement and social services.
Captain Stephens was asked how police would ensure the program wouldn't racially profile. He said they chose an evidence-based selection process, which will use numbers to select and rank offenders on the list. He added that the names and identifying information of offenders will be redacted from that list.
The program began in Boston and has been replicated in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Kansas City, Missouri.
