Sedgwick County EMS has lost over 200* paramedics and EMTs** in just over three years, and the losses are continuing. It is nearly impossible to describe the magnitude of the loss of so many skilled, dedicated responders who have a combined total of over 1,108* years of EMS experience.

And so it's time. Time for complete transparency and a truly responsive county government. It's time for a closer scrutiny of the disastrous decision making and ongoing mis-management at the most senior levels of Sedgwick County government that has caused this crisis. 

Make no mistake: this was a completely avoidable tragedy, and it is time for accountability for our senior county officials who have been impervious to the fallout from their very poor decisions.

The Wichita Eagle did an admirable job of describing the roots of this crisis in their July 2021 series*** but there is still much more that the public deserves to know.

Sedgwick County has repeatedly refused to release the July 2021 report prepared by the Wichita law firm Hite, Fanning & Honeyman following their investigative  audit of EMS issues raised by employees. 

The contents of this report, commissioned and paid for with taxpayer dollars, are in the public interest. It is unacceptable for senior county management to withhold material information from the public, presumably simply to shield themselves from 
accountability.

No More Excuses!

Sedgwick County should release the Hite, Fanning & Honeyman report to the public immediately and be responsive to all follow up Freedom of Information Act requests. 

Current and prospective county commissioner candidates need to take a stand and explain to the public how withholding the Hite, Fanning & Honeyman report is in keeping with the county value of integrity and steadfast transparency. 

 

How you can help:

A) Sign the petition

B) Call or email the county commissioners (contact info is below) and urge them to:
     i. instruct county staff to release the entirety of the Hite, Fanning & Honeyman investigative EMS audit to the public.
     ii. instruct county staff to be responsive to Freedom of Information Requests from the media and the general public
     iii. actively work to end the culture of intimidation, fear, and retaliation within Sedgwick County government and give our paramedics and EMTs the respect they deserve

C) Call or email the candidates running for county commission (contact info is below) and ask them:
     i. do you support bringing transparency to Sedgwick County by releasing the Hite, Fanning & Honeyman investigative EMS audit to the public?
     ii. will you work to make the county responsive to FOIA requests?
     iii. will you work to end the culture of intimidation, fear, and retaliation within Sedgwick County government and give our paramedics and EMTs the respect they deserve?
 

Pete Meitzner 316.660.9300  Pete.Meitzner@sedgwick.gov
Sarah Lopez 316.660.9300 Sarah.Lopez@sedgwick.gov
David Dennis 316.660.9300 David.Dennis@sedgwick.gov
Lacey Cruse 316.660.9300 Lacey.Cruse@sedgwick.gov
Jim Howell 316.660.9300 Jim.Howell@sedgwick.gov

 

District 1 candidate, Kelli Grant, (316) 202-8737, info@VoteKelliGrant.com

District 4 candidate, Ryan Baty, https://ryanbaty.com/contact/

District 5 candidate, John McIntosh, (316) 351-8304, John@McIntoshForSedgwickCountyCommission.com

 

*These numbers will increase as we continue tabulating the data
**Includes both full time and part time personnel

***For further reading:

https://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article259401769.html

https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article252675078.html

https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article252755213.html

https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article252679993.html