• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lost Prairie Press

Lost Prairie Press

Trending News from the Midwest - IA, IL, KS, MO, NE

  • Home
  • MIDWEST
  • ILLINOIS
  • IOWA
  • KANSAS
  • MISSOURI
  • NEBRASKA
  • About Us
    • Contact Us

Kansas City Mayor Lucas proposes reallocation of KCPD budget to community efforts – KMBC Kansas City

Major funding changes are on the way for the Kansas City Police Department. Just hours after Mayor Quinton Lucas announced a plan Thursday to move millions from the police department budget to other crime prevention efforts, the city council passed it.The city council voted 9-4 to pass two ordinances, with all the city council members from the Northland voting against the measure.More than a dozen officers sat in the room watching as it happened.The ordinances take $42.3 million directly out of the police budget. The plan then commits $45.3 million to be used by the police department for crime prevention, community engagement, and outreach. Supporters explained that it is basically a transfer while increasing the budget by $3 million.They say it will help reduce the high number of homicides that have plagued the city.The four council members against plan said they were left out of the deal and the process should not have been done behind closed doors.”This is actually just the same thing that happens in Overland Park and Grandview every year. City council get to talk to the police department about what the budget is going to be and then all those cities, they take care of their police. They have a good relationship with them with them. I think Kansas City can be just like that and I’m glad we took a step in that direction,” Lucas said.”You can’t just blink and say all of a sudden violent crime is going to evaporate. It doesn’t work that way,” said Heather Hall, city councilwoman for the 1st District.The Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners is run by a state board. This is one way to circumvent that and have more direct oversight by the city council through the budgeting process.In a recent blog post, KCPD Chief Rick Smith says continuing budget cuts would affect staffing, programs and response times.Co-sponsors for the legislation included Third District at-Large Councilmember Brandon Ellington, Third District Councilmember Melissa Robinson, Fourth District at-Large Council member Katheryn Shields, Fourth District Council member Eric Bunch, Fifth District at-Large Council member Lee Barnes, Jr., Fifth District Council member Ryana Parks-Shaw, Sixth District at-Large Council member Andrea Bough, and Sixth District Council member Kevin McManus.”This is a refreshing change of course,” said Gwen Grant, president and CEO, Urban League of Kansas City and member of the Urban Council. “It is time that the KCPD be held to account for their inefficient and ineffective expenditures, which have failed to substantively address the proliferation of violent crime in our community.”Before the city council voted, Kansas City police Chief Rick Smith released this statement:”I am disheartened Mayor Lucas and the other sponsoring council members did not reach out to the police department prior to today’s press conference to notify us of such a policy shift. As a member of the Board of Police Commissioners, the mayor meets monthly with other board members, department members and the public. At these meetings, we discuss performance and statistics from each bureau, including crime, budgets, policy and other matters. The mayor and the other sponsoring council members have not previously mentioned this proposal, so our discussions about it are just beginning.”Four council members spoke out against the proposal at a news conference.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Major funding changes are on the way for the Kansas City Police Department.

Just hours after Mayor Quinton Lucas announced a plan Thursday to move millions from the police department budget to other crime prevention efforts, the city council passed it.

Advertisement

The city council voted 9-4 to pass two ordinances, with all the city council members from the Northland voting against the measure.

More than a dozen officers sat in the room watching as it happened.

The ordinances take $42.3 million directly out of the police budget. The plan then commits $45.3 million to be used by the police department for crime prevention, community engagement, and outreach. Supporters explained that it is basically a transfer while increasing the budget by $3 million.

They say it will help reduce the high number of homicides that have plagued the city.

The four council members against plan said they were left out of the deal and the process should not have been done behind closed doors.

“This is actually just the same thing that happens in Overland Park and Grandview every year. City council get to talk to the police department about what the budget is going to be and then all those cities, they take care of their police. They have a good relationship with them with them. I think Kansas City can be just like that and I’m glad we took a step in that direction,” Lucas said.

“You can’t just blink and say all of a sudden violent crime is going to evaporate. It doesn’t work that way,” said Heather Hall, city councilwoman for the 1st District.

The Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners is run by a state board. This is one way to circumvent that and have more direct oversight by the city council through the budgeting process.

In a recent blog post, KCPD Chief Rick Smith says continuing budget cuts would affect staffing, programs and response times.

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Co-sponsors for the legislation included Third District at-Large Councilmember Brandon Ellington, Third District Councilmember Melissa Robinson, Fourth District at-Large Council member Katheryn Shields, Fourth District Council member Eric Bunch, Fifth District at-Large Council member Lee Barnes, Jr., Fifth District Council member Ryana Parks-Shaw, Sixth District at-Large Council member Andrea Bough, and Sixth District Council member Kevin McManus.

“This is a refreshing change of course,” said Gwen Grant, president and CEO, Urban League of Kansas City and member of the Urban Council. “It is time that the KCPD be held to account for their inefficient and ineffective expenditures, which have failed to substantively address the proliferation of violent crime in our community.”

Before the city council voted, Kansas City police Chief Rick Smith released this statement:

“I am disheartened Mayor Lucas and the other sponsoring council members did not reach out to the police department prior to today’s press conference to notify us of such a policy shift. As a member of the Board of Police Commissioners, the mayor meets monthly with other board members, department members and the public. At these meetings, we discuss performance and statistics from each bureau, including crime, budgets, policy and other matters. The mayor and the other sponsoring council members have not previously mentioned this proposal, so our discussions about it are just beginning.”

Four council members spoke out against the proposal at a news conference.

View Source

Filed Under: KANSAS

Primary Sidebar

More to See

42-essential-sweets-in-kc,-from-bonbons-to-apple-fritters

42 essential sweets in KC, from bonbons to apple fritters

February is short but sweet. This month, we share our picks for the city’s best bonbons and a lot of other unique sweets that are baked, dipped and drizzled to perfection. By Dawnya Bartsch, Martin … [Read More...] about 42 essential sweets in KC, from bonbons to apple fritters

our-five-favorite-bonbons-in-kc

Our five favorite bonbons in KC

Photo by Caleb Condit and Rebecca Norden It’s Valentine’s Day month, but fancy chocolate deserves to be enjoyed year-round. We visited chocolatiers around the … [Read More...] about Our five favorite bonbons in KC

oppd-launches-transparency-website

OPPD launches transparency website

Posted on December 1, 2022 Overland Park now has more access to information about its Police Department than ever, thanks to a library of online transparency-focused … [Read More...] about OPPD launches transparency website

city-council-approves-2023-strategic-goals

City Council approves 2023 strategic goals

Posted on December 20, 2022 The Overland Park City Council has formally approved a set of strategic goals for the upcoming year. City Manager Lori Curtis Luther proposed the … [Read More...] about City Council approves 2023 strategic goals

town-company-and-drastic-measures-headline-kc’s-7-beard-award-nominations

Town Company and Drastic Measures headline KC’s 7 Beard Award nominations

The annual Beard Awards semifinalists nominations were just released and Kansas City’s food and drink scene has something to celebrate. The KC area has seven semifinalists by our count, including two … [Read More...] about Town Company and Drastic Measures headline KC’s 7 Beard Award nominations

Footer

WELCOME!

Thanks for visiting Lost Prairie Press!

We hope you’ll enjoy news and perspective from the Midwest – specifically, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Missouri.

About/Contact

Privacy Policy

Recent

  • 42 essential sweets in KC, from bonbons to apple fritters
  • Our five favorite bonbons in KC
  • OPPD launches transparency website

Search

Copyright © 2023 · Lost Prairie Press