Winfield Police Department

Where are sirens located?
The City of Winfield's outdoor warning system consists of 10 sirens strategically located throughout the city, as well as, 2 sirens located at the city lake.

Why use outdoor warning sirens?
The outdoor warning sirens represent only one part of a broader public emergency notification system.  Other components might include: NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, law enforcement, text notification networks, and the media.  Sirens are used to alert citizens who are outdoors of an imminent hazard and prompt them to go indoors, seek further information and ultimately seek shelter.

Upon hearing outdoor warning sirens it is important that all persons immediately refer to local broadcast media (radio, TV, etc.) or NOAA Weather Radio for additional information!

When activated, the tone will sound for 3 minutes, re-sounding for the duration of the threat (every 10-15 minutes is recommended).  Repeated sounding of sirens has directly resulted in saved lives in numerous cases.  Doing repeated sirens allows for an increased chance the sirens will be heard and also lets people know the threat still exists.

National Weather Service warnings define the area threatened by the storm and include information about the history and/or potential impact of the specific storm.  In addition, trained spotters provide real-time reports of an imminent threat approaching or occurring in the community.  When a warning includes the specific hazards defined below or when trained spotters report any of these hazards, sirens will be activated for all jurisdictions in the threatened area.

About the Divisions

• Patrol
• Investigations
• Administration
• Support Services
• Records

Robbie Delong, Chief of Police, oversees all operations of the Police Department and reports directly to the City Manager. Captain Chad Gordon reports directly to the Chief of Police and a staff of Lieutenants oversee the department's other four divisions.

The Patrol Division is responsible for patrolling the corporate limits of the City of Winfield, including the Winfield City Lake. Officers are responsible for crime prevention, apprehension and response to calls.  The Division maintains a fleet of marked units with each of these units being assigned to officers as a take-home vehicle.  The benefits of putting marked units in neighborhoods include police visibility to deter criminal activity, among others.
Patrol Division officers currently work three standard shifts. Shifts are supervised by a Lieutenant with Sergeants to assist.

The Patrol Division includes the following:

• Street Patrol 
• Animal Control 
• Parking Enforcement (Accessible Parking)
• School Resource Officer
• Bicycle Patrol

Animal Control
The Winfield Police Department receives hundreds of animal related calls each year. The primary responsibilities of the Department’s Animal Control Officer is public safety, animal protection, and animal complaint resolution. These goals are accomplished through a combination of education and the enforcement of municipal and state laws pertaining to animals. The Animal Control Officer performs a variety of field services, which include:

About the Program
In an effort to better serve the community, the Winfield Police Department implemented a Bicycle Patrol Program. It is believed that the Bicycle Officer is more accessible and approachable to the public. Bicycle Officers enjoy a greater freedom to talk to people and answer questions rather than sitting in what can be perceived as an intimidating car. Also, the Bicycle Officer can respond quickly and quietly to emergencies and can foil crimes in progress with a silent approach.

All Bicycle Officers are required to attend a police bicycle handler's course and show proficiency on the bicycle. The bicycles are mounted on racks to the rear of patrol vehicles. Utilizing the traditional patrol vehicle to move the bike from place to place allows greater mobility and quicker response to the various areas of the city. Officers can quickly respond to an area using their vehicle or, when close by, their bike.

The primary function of the Bike Officer is Public Relations and Crime Prevention. Bicycle Officers attend citywide special events such as parades, holiday events, etc. The Bike Officer provides specialized patrol in areas of the city experiencing elevations in crimes such as thefts, vandalism and burglaries. Bike Officers will actively patrol these areas in an effort to eliminate the problems. Bicycle Officers are extensively involved in public relations, conducting patrols in the city's neighborhoods and communicating with the citizens.

The City of Winfield Police Department is extremely proud of this highly trained group of officers and their ability to provide our residents and visitors to our community with the level of expertise and dedication that the members of the Bicycle Unit have demonstrated and will continue to demonstrate in the future.

Accessible Parking Rules
The Revised Guidelines for Accessible Public Rights-of-Ways addresses on-street accessible parking.  Where on-street parking spaces are marked or metered the number of  accessible spaces required is based on the total number of spaces on the block perimeter.  Public Parking Lots are required, as well, to meet accessible space requirements based on the total number of spaces within the lot.

Only persons with an appropriately issued license plate or placard may park in a marked accessible parking space (STO Sec. 87). This applies on both public and private property.  Violators could be fined not less than $50 and not more than $100.

A vehicle with an appropriately issued license plate or placard may park for up to 24 hours in any restricted parking zone except for those spaces specifically marked for special types of vehicles or where parking would clearly present a parking hazard.  Eligible vehicles will be exempt from any parking meter fees.

About the Division
The Investigations Division is responsible for conducting follow-up investigations with the goal of identifying and arresting the person(s) responsible for alleged crimes.

They investigate crimes against persons, property crimes, forgeries, and auto thefts, among others. Major crimes and other criminal activities frequently require considerable time in follow-up investigation, evidence gathering, and interviewing witnesses and suspects.

Investigations is comprised of three (3) sections.

• General Investigations Section
• Cowley County Drug Task Force 
• Crime Stoppers

• Fear of reprisal
• An attitude of apathy 
• Reluctance to get involved

• Offering anonymity to people who provide information about crimes.
• Paying rewards when the information supplied leads to arrest.

The Community
Citizens are responsible for forming a Crime Stoppers non-profit corporation, whose directors establish policy, determine amount and method of reward payments, work closely with the police and the media and generally oversee the program. The directors are also responsible for fund raising, and all volunteer service. Tax money is not sought. 

The Media
Crime Stoppers methods, objectives, successes and phone numbers are publicized on a regular basis by the media. An unsolved 'Crime of the Month' is given special treatment with details published in newspapers, on radio and in certain cases a re-enactment on television. 

The Police
A well publicized number, (620)221-7777 for Winfield, is provided to the community for the purpose of relaying tips. Callers are assigned a special code number and NEVER give their names. If, after the investigation, the information leads to an arrest, the caller is entitled to a reward.

Building Partnerships
Dedicated to making Winfield a safe place to live and work, the Winfield Police Department is committed to developing and forming working partnerships with its residents, businesses, and community organizations.

WPD offers several services to better educate the public on what police officers do and why they do it, as well as personal/home/business safety. Each of our services is designed to help break down barriers of communication and promote trust between our citizens and our department.

Review the services we currently provide by clicking the links at the top of the page. Should you have questions, concerns, or other opportunities to better include the community with its police department, call 620-221-5556. 

About the Academy

The focus of the Winfield Police Department's Citizens Academy is to allow citizens to look into the world of law enforcement. Participants gain an understanding of the police department and other area law enforcement responsibilities and the laws that govern them. The academy provides a hands-on opportunity to educate the citizens on the operations of the department while obtaining valuable feedback to enhance police and community relations.

The 12 week course is held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., beginning in September. The classes include topics in traffic enforcement, S.W.A.T., crime scenes, drug investigations, death investigations, a ride-a-long, use of force issues, as well as many other topics and hands-on experiences.

Classes are taught by members of the Winfield Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol and Cowley County Sheriff’s Office. There is no cost to attend the Citizens Academy and it is open to all residents 18 and older. We encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about the Winfield Police Department to apply for the upcoming academy. Background checks are done on all applicants. Click here to download the Citizens Academy application, or stop by the station to pick up a printed copy. For additional information, please call 620-221-5545 or email tgaskill@winfieldks.org.

Programs for Public Safety
Members of the Winfield Police Department present a  number of different programs regarding public safety  issues.  The programs are free of charge and can range in length from thirty minutes to two hours, depending on the need and topic. Some presentations include usage of video recordings and visual aides. A minimum of fifteen people per presentation is requested. For questions regarding the various programs or to plan an event, please e-mail Tyler Gaskill Email or call 620-221-5545, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Road Safety
Click here to view Road Safety

• Do trees and shrubbery obscure doors and/or windows?
• Are entrances to your home unlit?
• Are openings to your home (skylights, crawl spaces or vents) unprotected?
• Are entrances unlocked, including the garage and inside doors?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have a problem to correct. Now, let's look at your home from the inside.

• Are exterior doors secured using a deadbolt lock, minimum one inch thick?
• Does the basement door have extra protection, such as a padlock?
• Does the garage door lock?
• Does the garage entrance to your home have a deadbolt lock (with a minimum one inch throw)?
• Are all exterior doors (including the garage) strong enough to withstand excessive force? Exterior doors should be solid wood or metal.
• Are all strike plates and frames for each door strong enough to withstand excessive force?
• Are sliding doors and windows secure against forced locks and/or lifting out of their frames?
• Are hinges pinned to prevent removal?
• Is there a peephole viewer (180 degrees) on the main entrance door?
• Are double hung windows secured with a pin or extra lock to discourage jimmying?
• Do the casement window latches work properly, without excess play?

If you answered no to any of these questions, you have a problem to correct. To further protect your belongings and help recover stolen items:

• Clearly mark your valuables with an identifying number.
• Make a list of your valuables including description, model and serial numbers.
• Take photos or video tape valuables such as art, jeweler and electronic equipment.
• Place the list and photos in a safe place.
• Establish a security closet inside your house for storing valuables. The closet door should be as secure as your exterior doors, with a deadbeat lock and pinned hinges on a solid wood door.
• Post your house number clearly and keep it well lighted at night. This will help emergency personnel responding in case of an emergency, as well as assist in the reporting of one.
• Be a good neighbor. Watch out for suspicious activity on your block and call for help immediately when your observe it. 
  REMEMBER, no home is burglar-proof, but experience has shown you can reduce your chances of being burglarized by reducing easy opportunities.

1. Prevention - How to reduce the chances of being a victim:
   The single most important thing in prevention is staying alert and aware of what is going on around you and your surroundings. We can and should incorporate a 2,500-year old Chinese saying that is still used by the Chinese and is included in the U.S. Marine Corp. training manual. 'A commander may be forgiven for being defeated in battle, but never for being surprised.' To some extent alertness is an inherent personality trait. However, it can be learned and improved upon if we accept the fact that we live in a world filled with danger. Know what's behind you and pay particular attention to anything out of place. Develop eyes in the back of your head.
2. Avoidance - How to avoid a dangerous situation:
   Don't allow your mind to wander, thinking about your job or all the things you have to do, when walking or driving. When you are angry; frustrated; depressed; unusually happy and carefree; or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your chances of being a victim increase. Your strongest ally in a confrontation is your brain. When you lose your keen sense of awareness, through distraction or chemicals, you lose vision. When you are in 'your own little world' you become an easy target for an assailant. The attacker will use the element of surprise and opportunity. Don't give them this advantage. Be assertive in your actions and the way you walk. Give the appearance that you know what you are doing and where you are going. Trust your instincts. If something or someone makes you uneasy, avoid that person or leave the area. Know the neighborhood where you live, work and shop. Know the locations of Police Stations, Fire Stations, public telephones and restaurants or stores that are open late.
3. Escape - Do whatever it takes to get away:
   Make as much noise as possible to attract attention to yourself and your assailant. Chances are the attacker will be surprised at your actions and want to get away.
4. Combat - If you can't escape, FIGHT. 
   Car or house keys to the face, especially the eyes 
   Pen or Pencil to the throat 
   Open hand strikes to the nose or chin 
   Kick or grab the groin area 
   Stomp instep of the attackers foot or scrape the shins

Follow these simple rules and your chances of becoming a victim decrease. Immediately call the police to report suspicious incidents.

If you have purchased a vehicle with an out of state title (not including salvage or rebuilt titles), you'll need to get it inspected prior to registering it in Kansas. The Winfield Police Department has state certified inspectors stationed at  The Winfield Fairgrounds, Barn 4, 1100 W. 9th Ave. on Tuesdays and Thursdays (except holidays), from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. You'll need to bring the following with you:

• $20 (cash only)

• The vehicle to be inspected

• The original title (photocopies are not accepted)

• A valid drivers license

If you do not have your title, please contact the dealership or lienholder and request they fax it to 620-221-5592 prior to the date you plan on getting the vehicle inspected. If your vehicle has a salvage or rebuilt title, it will need to be inspected by the Kansas Highway Patrol. These inspections are typically performed Wednesdays (except holidays) from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Area Headquarters, 7093 U.S. 160 Hwy., Winfield, KS 67156. To check on the availability of a trooper to perform salvage/rebuilt title inspections, please call the KHP VIN office in Kechi at 316-337-7418.