Lofton task force calls for audit of 'stand your ground' laws, mental health support
Wichita EagleApr 26, 2022
Apr. 26—The task force charged with addressing systemic failures that contributed to 17-year-old Cedric "CJ" Lofton's in-custody death has put forth 57 recommendations, including dozens of policy changes.
The task force proposed an array of non-binding reforms to the state foster care system, Sedgwick County 911, the
Task force members called for local officials to request a state audit of "stand your ground" laws, the self-defense statutes District Attorney
One proposed change would amend the county intake center's use of force policy to state: "Once youth is secured in a cell, instead of holding him/her down in the prone position, close the cell and allow the youth to calm down."
Lofton was held face-down in the prone position for almost 45 minutes as corrections staff struggled to handcuff him early on
Task force members also proposed development of an uninterrupted, 24/7 mobile mental health response system that can be dispatched by 911.
A number of recommendations call for significant funding increases to agencies and programs. No dollar amounts are specified.
The task force asks that crisis intervention training be required for all police supervisors, and that the city hire three full-time and three part-time mental health professionals to support the department.
Lofton's foster father initially called 911 asking for a police escort to take the teen in for a mental health evaluation. After Lofton refused to go voluntarily and resisted being taken into protective custody, a WPD supervisor without crisis intervention training made the decision to take him to lockup.
Another Wichita officer changed his answers on a release form after learning his initial answers would have required police to take Lofton to the hospital.
The 23-person
Sedgwick County Commissioner
"The next step is really, you guys are going to have to hold us accountable," Lopez said. "We told you that we wanted you to give us these recommendations. We meant that, and now it's time that we do our part in this and try to implement these as best we can moving forward."
The task force was not given access to personnel records, subpoena power or the authority to interview the government employees involved in the foster teen's death.
Task force member
"I want some teeth to this thing," Mason said.
"Others in the community have said this task force is just a task force, a PR stunt. What are you doing on there? Nothing's going to come out of it. I want something to come out of it. I want to hold each of us accountable."
Task force member
"The only person who was held accountable for CJ Lofton's death was CJ Lofton," Atkins said. "I think it's really important that we uplift that and end this knowing that the reason why we came into this space is because a 17-year-old child was murdered in a mental health crisis."
The task force previously penned a letter to the
Task force report
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