What does KC need in new police chief? These public meetings hope to find the answer
A coalition of business, civic and faith-based organizations will hold public meetings to help determine the qualities the Kansas City community feels are needed in its next police chief.
The coalition intends to take the findings from the listening sessions, which begin later this month, and present them to the Board of Police Commissioners, according to a news release from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, which is one of the organizations involved.
“The coalition recognizes that input and voices of the Kansas City community are vital and necessary as the city’s search for a police chief moves forward. Transparency and trust are essential,” Pastor Ron Lindsay of Getting to the Heart of the Matter said in the release.
“By collaborating and leveraging each organization’s strengths, we are ensuring the diversity of Kansas City’s neighborhoods, experiences, backgrounds, and vast geography are given equal opportunities to participate in the listening sessions.”
The meetings are scheduled for:
- 6 to 8 p. m. March 29 at Northland Neighborhoods Inc., 5340 N.E. Chouteau Trafficway in Kansas City, North.
- 10 a.m. to noon April 2 at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center, 3700 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
- 10 a.m. to noon April 2, the Evangel Church, 1414 E. 103rd Street.
- 6 to 8 p.m. April 6 at the Mattie Rhodes Cultural Center, 1701 Jarboe Street. This will be a bilingual meeting.
- 6 to 8 p.m. April 7 at the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, 2657 Independence Avenue. This will be a multilingual meeting.
- 3:30 5:30 p.m. April 14 at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Board Room, 1st floor of Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road.
Those who attend will be asked to answer a set a questions that will be presented at each session. People attending virtually will be able to answer them in an online format. For those who are unable to attend, the questions are also available online.
The department’s current chief, Rick Smith, is expect to leave in April. His departure comes as he and the department have faced several controversies, including the historic conviction of a white police detective in the killing of a Black man.
In November, former detective Eric DeValkenaere was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2019 shooting death of Cameron Lamb. Four days later, The Star reported that Smith was being forced out of his position as police chief.
At the end of November, The Star obtained audio of Smith saying “the bad guy’s dead” minutes after DeValkenaere killed Lamb, a remark that angered many in the community.
The Star reported in January that police data showed officers in Kansas City use a disproportionate amount of violence on Black people: From 2019 to July 2021, more than 57% of the department’s use of force incidents were against Black people.
Five officers under Smith have faced criminal charges related to alleged excessive force.
Organizers hope the public meetings strengthen community trust between Kansas City residents and the police department.
The idea for the sessions began during discussions involving the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, and pastors involved in Getting to the Heart of the Matter. It quickly expanded to include 15 organizations.
“Some may ask why so many business organizations are involved in this effort,” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber. “The high rate of violent crime affects our employees, our companies, as well as our community’s ability to attract and retain businesses.”
The organizations participating organizations are the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City, Black Chamber of Commerce, Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, Downtown Council, Getting to the Heart of the Matter, The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce;
Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Economic Development Corp., KC Common Good, Northeast Chamber of Commerce, Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Prospect Business Association, South Kansas City Alliance, and South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
This story was originally published March 23, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
