Wichita Police Chief Invited to White House

A Kansas police chief has received a White House invitation after a cookout that included law enforcement and leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay was asked to go to the White House on Friday to discuss community policing. City spokesman Ken Evans said he had to turn down the invitation because he’s serving as the justice of the peace at a weekend wedding. But Evans says Ramsay will look to reschedule.

The invitation came after Ramsay met with local activist leaders about replacing another planned protest with a cookout that aimed to open a dialogue. Nearly 2,000 people attended Sunday’s event.

Videos of officers dancing with people at the cookout have been viewed tens of thousands of times.

Associated Press information from: The Wichita Eagle