Wichita Police offers community academy with Spanish translation

The Wichita Police Department is inviting the community to learn more about police work.

The Spanish Citizens Police Academy is a free program that lasts 13 weeks. Classes will begin Thursday, August 27, and end November 19, 2026. They will meet every Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The presentations will be in English. Spanish-speaking officers will translate the information and help answer questions.

Officer Rick Peña said anyone can attend. People do not need to be U.S. citizens or live in Wichita.

What will participants learn?

People will learn about different Wichita Police Department units. These may include:

• The SWAT team.
• The bomb squad.
• The canine unit.
• The mounted unit.
• The traffic unit.

Participants can ask questions and learn what police officers do each day.

The program may also help people who are thinking about becoming police officers. The department can arrange a ride-along for people who want to learn more about the job.

Technology used by Wichita police

Peña said the department uses technology to help solve crimes and communicate with the public.

These tools include drones, license plate readers and body cameras.

According to Peña, officers can also use body camera technology to help with translation. This can help an officer speak with someone who does not speak English.

Immigration questions will be answered

An immigration attorney will take part in the program. The attorney will answer questions from participants.

Peña said people should not be afraid to report a crime. He said officers want to help anyone who is a crime victim, no matter their immigration status.

“You are still a victim,” Peña said during the interview.

Wichita police wants more bilingual officers

The Wichita Police Department wants to hire more Hispanic and bilingual officers.

Peña said there were only eight Spanish-speaking officers when he joined the department in 2001. The department now has more than 30 officers who speak Spanish.

Peña said this helps the department communicate with the city’s growing Spanish-speaking community.

Is the academy only for adults?

This program is for adults. The Wichita Police Department also offers a separate summer academy for young people between the ages of 14 and 17.

The youth program is also free. Information about the next program will be shared before the summer session.

How can people register?

People can visit the Wichita Police Department website or its Facebook pages.

Information is available on the “Wichita Police” Facebook page and the Spanish-language “Policía de Wichita” page. Look for the link marked “Talleres Comunitarios” to register.

The adult academy is free and open to everyone.

Editorial disclosure: This article is based on an interview conducted by María José Ramírez with Wichita Police Officer Rick Peña. The interview was processed with artificial intelligence, and the content was reviewed by a journalist.