Month: June 2020

Former Wichita mayor, Carl Brewer, dies

Carl Brewer, former Wichita mayor, visited Kansas City, Kansas, on a campaign stop in 2018. (File photo)

Carl Brewer, former Wichita mayor who ran for Kansas governor in 2018, has died.

Brewer, 63, was Wichita’s first elected African-American mayor, winning election in 2007 and reelected in 2011. Brewer visited Kansas City, Kansas, during his campaign for governor.

His family released a statement today: “Former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer passed away Friday morning. There are no details available for a memorial service at this time but we will provide an update at a future date. The family appreciates the support they have received from the community. They ask for privacy at this time.”

Brewer was a retired engineer from Spirit manufacturing, Wichita. Serving in the Kansas Army National Guard, Brewer was the first African-American president of his officer candidate school class. He was company commander of infantry and artillery companies for the Kansas National Guard.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of Carl’s untimely passing this morning,” Gov. Laura Kelly stated in a news release. “Carl was an outstanding mayor, served for more than two decades in the Kansas National Guard, and was a strong supporter of the Kansas Labor community. I have no doubt the impact of his contributions to our state will be felt for generations to come.

“I’m also grateful for his service in my administration, both during our transition, and later when he played an integral role on the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform.

“Carl truly embodied all of the best qualities of what it means to be a Kansan, and he will be dearly missed,” Gov. Kelly said.

Parking enforcement resumes in KCK

The Unified Government’s Parking Control Division resumed parking enforcement efforts on June 8, according to a UG spokesman.

Parking enforcement activities were previously suspended on March 20 as part of the Unified Government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. During this time, parking enforcement officers responded to safety issues, such as blocked fire hydrants and handicapped parking violations.

Regular patrolling and full enforcement in all areas, including metered areas, time-limited zones, no parking areas, and handicapped zones, resumed and will continue moving forward.

“Parking control officers patrol designated areas within the Unified Government of Wyandotte County-Kansas City, Kansas, which includes UG parking facilities, parking meters, and on-street parking in highly dense and populated areas of the city,” said Rhonda Green, parking control division manager.

Parking control activity includes the area contained within 4th to 38th streets from the Missouri River to County Line Road abutting Johnson County, Kansas

“The parking control division is committed to building collaborative partnerships with area businesses and organizations to enhance and improve the downtown parking environment while providing excellent customer service fairly and equitably,” Green said..

For more information about public parking, parking lot locations, and to view the division’s standard operating procedures, visit wycokck.org/Parking. Residents, businesses and visitors with questions can contact parking control by calling 3-1-1 or emailing [email protected].

To report a parking violation, call 3-1-1 or 913-573-5200.  For emergencies, dial 911.

  • Information from Unified Government

Supreme Court reverses restitution order against convicted murderer

The Kansas Supreme Court today reversed a restitution order against a defendant from Wyandotte County.

The court stated that the restitution plan was unworkable for Jason R. Tucker, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to capital murder charges.

According to court documents, when Tucker was sentenced in Wyandotte County District Court, the state requested restitution of $5,000 for funeral expenses of one of the victims, and $13,587.85 for medical expenses of Balza. Although the defense attorney argued the restitution plan was unworkable because Tucker would spend the rest of his life in prison, the judge in the case ordered restitution of $5,000 plus $200 for DNA tests, and court costs.

In return for pleading guilty to one count of capital murder, the death penalty was not sought against Tucker, and other charges were dropped.

In his plea agreement, according to court documents, Tucker admitted forcing his way into a residence, after which he shot and killed Jeremy Rocha, Bernadette Gosserand and Vincent Rocha. He also shot Bryan Balza in the back, according to court documents. Balza, who had a protection from abuse order against Tucker, survived and identified Tucker as the shooter. The agreed sentence was to be life without possibility of parole.

The shootings took place in May 2017 near the 1900 block of South Boeke Street in Kansas City, Kansas.

Before sentencing, the Wyandotte County District Court found Tucker was indigent based on a financial affidavit showing the defendant made $14 a month at time of arrest, according to court documents.

The Supreme Court held the restitution was unworkable because the impossibility of parole meant Tucker would not have an opportunity to earn money after release from prison.

If the sentencing court intends for the restitution to be paid while in prison, it must specifically make such an order on the record and had not done so in this case, the Supreme Court stated.

The court’s decision is at https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/119242.pdf?ext=.pdf.