SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department is aware of a social media post regarding an incident that occurred this past weekend. We want to provide the accurate facts of what occurred, so our community has a clear understanding of the situation.
At 5:40 p.m., Wichita Police Department officers were dispatched to assist Fire and EMS on a heat‑exposure call in the 8500 block of E. 33rd Street South, according to a media release from police.
Fire and EMS arrived first. Upon arrival, they informed officer that the individual at the residence was declining medical care. She was conscious, aware of her surroundings, and able to make her own decisions, which means first responders are legally limited in their ability to force treatment.
The caller also stated they did not wish to file any kind of criminal report and understood that police could not compel the individual to accept medical services.
At no time did officers state, “Well that makes my job easy.”
Approximately 30 minutes later, officers responded to a burglary‑in‑progress call in the 8900 block of E. Bradford at a set of model homes.
There, officers again encountered the same woman, who adamantly refused assistance from police and specifically from EMS. The property owner also did not want to file a police report. Officers then contacted a family member who said they would try to help her leave the area.
"We understand that situations like this can be concerning, and we appreciate the community looking out for one another. We also ask that people be cautious about what they read on social media. In this case, our officers followed the law, respected the individual’s rights, and acted appropriately."
"Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved."