A couple of years ago, according to Sedgwick County Emergency Communications Director Elora Forshee, efforts began in earnest to seek out a way to engage the community voice regarding 911 operations. In the wake of those ongoing efforts and feedback heard from a 2022 task force formed in response to the death of Wichita teenager Cedric Lofton, a community advisory board (CAB) was suggested and officially approved by the Sedgwick County Commission at its Feb. 7 meeting. Representing first responders (Wichita-Sedgwick County Emergency Communications Advisory Board) and staff (Employee Advisory Board), county 911 was getting input from two of the three key facets in its response – with only the community voice missing. “We didn’t have a good conduit for the community to have input in their 911 services,” Forshee said. “We think this is a great opportunity for our community to have some voice within the system and provide input.” Opening the county’s new emergency communications center within the past year also led to the prioritization of the CAB, which will be made up of 13 voting members. Makeup of the board will include a representative from each of the five commission districts, the city of Wichita, city of Derby, a city of the second class, a city of the third class, a youth member and three at-large members. The board will be fully ratified by the county commission.
Source: Derby Informer | News
