James Barfield Sr. was recognized as Citizen of

the Year by Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter, “in recognition of assisting in and advancing the highest standard of public service for the Barfield

Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.”

Barfield, a long-time community activist, actively pursued

corrective action against the East borough Police

Department when a tape surfaced of two officers

allegedly making derogatory statements about an

African-American who called the Department.

The comments were made and recorded after the officers thought the phone line had been disconnected.