The Wichita Police Department on Sept. 8 released drone footage showing fights in Old Town that it says justified a large Labor Day weekend police response.

The release came after online criticism that the deployment targeted a predominantly Black concert audience. A social media photo showing a heavy police presence near Rock Island Live went viral, first reported by KWCH.

Several posts described what they called "an extraordinary police deployment" that effectively cleared out Old Town after a Boosie concert at Wave, according to KSN. The concert drew about 2,000 people, according to police. Some posts questioned why the response was heavier than at country or rock concerts.

WPD said the police buildup had nothing to do with the concert or its audience.

Officers made one arrest at the Boosie concert itself after an attendee allegedly assaulted a security officer inside the venue. No other arrests occurred at the show. The department said the larger response came later, after its Real Time Information Center drone spotted a disturbance between two women near Emerson Biggins and a separate fight in front of Rock Island Live involving a crowd of about 300 people.

Mounted Unit officers responded, and the on-scene lieutenant gave repeated verbal commands to disperse. When some people refused, additional officers were called in from patrol bureaus across the city. Officers arrested 11 people for failure to disperse.

One person taken into custody reported a medical issue and was transported to a hospital after receiving a notice to appear.

Rock Island Live appeared to be at capacity and was not admitting additional patrons. WPD asked the establishment to close its doors, and it eventually complied.

WPD's statement said officers managed the crowd through presence and verbal direction without using force.

The department said it expanded its holiday staffing in Old Town after a homicide there on Labor Day 2025. In that case, 23-year-old D'Andre Rubio-Glover was fatally shot. Lafayette Washington was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced on July 24, 2026, to 19 years and nine months in prison, KWCH reported.

District I Council Member Joseph Shepard said he contacted Police Chief Joe Sullivan on Sept. 8 after hearing the racial equity concerns. Shepard said Sullivan told him more than 40 Wichita police and Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office personnel responded to the disturbances. Shepard said Sullivan confirmed no mace, Tasers or batons were used.

Shepard said he plans to have an "in-depth conversation about what occurred and discuss next steps and how we communicate with those involved" at his standing monthly meeting with Sullivan. No date for that meeting has been announced.