KCPD to receive $17M for World Cup overtime with federal grant
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- KCPD accepted a $17.07 million federal grant for officer overtime and equipment.
- Commissioners approved a $728,921 software purchase for drone detection.
- Commissioners approved a $499,645 mobile command vehicle for drone operations.
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners approved three measures tied to security preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during a special-called meeting Thursday, including acceptance of a $17.07 million federal grant for officer overtime and equipment.
The funding is part of a broader $59 million federal allocation for World Cup safety and security across the Kansas City region. The $17 million portion represents the department’s share. The allocation of those funds had been delayed in part due to the federal government shutdown.
Deputy Chief Derek McCollum told commissioners the $17 million award comes from cost estimates that were sent by the department during the planning process for staffing and needs tied to the tournament.
McCollum said the funding will go toward overtime, as well as equipment purchases for security operations during the event.
The funding still needs to go through the Kansas City Council, which must pass an ordinance tied to acceptance of the funds.
During the same meeting, commissioners also approved two additional purchases tied to the department’s counter-unmanned aircraft systems program, as part of a separate federal grant awarded a few months ago.
McCollum said the technology is part of the department’s effort to detect and mitigate potentially suspicious unmanned aircraft, or drones, during World Cup events and other large-scale gatherings.
One item authorizes the purchase of Airspace Link’s AirHub software, which McCollum said will help detect and identify suspicious unmanned aircraft and support drone operations during large-scale events. The contract totals $728,921. McCollum said the system is intended to help officers identify potential aerial threats and respond before drones reach restricted areas.
A second item authorizes the purchase of a mobile command and support vehicle for the department’s unmanned aircraft program, totaling $499,645. McCollum said the vehicle is a smaller, more mobile command post, allowing for faster deployment and more flexible monitoring during events.
