Mayor Lucas announces plan for KC voters to decide on seeking local control of police
Mayor Quinton Lucas on Thursday announced he plans to introduce an ordinance that would ask Kansas City voters whether they wish to proceed with gaining local control of the police department.
The measure would establish the call for local control as a city legislative priority and would go before voters on the Nov. 3 ballot.
“We need to figure out how we bring our community together long term,” said Lucas, joined by a group of local faith leaders, during a news conference in front of City Hall.
Local control of the Kansas City Police Department has been among the reform demands from clergy, civil rights groups and protesters who gathered on the Country Club Plaza late last month to demonstrate against police brutality.
Kansas City is the only city in Missouri, and one of the largest cities in the U.S., that doesn’t have local control of its police department. Instead, the force is controlled by a five-member board appointed by the governor. As mayor, Lucas sits on the board.
A police department spokesman did not comment directly about the proposed ordinance but referred to a November blog post from Police Chief Rick Smith that said of the police department’s governance model: “Many say that model is outdated. We believe, however, that it has served the people of Kansas City well for 80 years and will continue to do so.”
Smith also said, “Under our current governance model, we are agile and adaptable. We can focus resources where they are needed most without being slowed by politics or bureaucracy. We can quickly respond to the needs of neighborhoods and businesses because we aren’t beholden to any particular elected official.”
To establish local control in Kansas City, the Missouri legislature would have to change the state law, or a citizen petition can place the measure on a statewide ballot.
In 2012, the Missouri voters granted St. Louis the authority to run its police force. St. Louis initiated a local ballot proposal prior to taking the measure to a statewide vote. That measure was supported by the local police union.
Local control of the Kansas City Police Department will be among the topics that a newly formed public safety study group is expected to address.
Lucas’ announcement Thursday came weeks after local clergy and civil rights groups demanded police reforms that include officers wear body cameras and the police department ban the use of choke holds and neck restraints. They also called for an independent review board that would examine allegations of police excessive use of force and police shootings.
Several civil rights groups have called for Chief Smith to resign, citing a lack of confidence in his handling of fatal police shootings of Black men, and allegations of excessive force by the department.
Community leaders have also pointed to recent increases in gun violence in the city.
“Eighty-nine homicides halfway through the year is tragic,” said the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III, senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church, who was among a group of clergy who demanded local control. “There is definitely something that needs to be done, not now but right now. I believe local control opens the door for positive reform throughout the policing system in Kansas City.”
The Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity, one of the groups that called for Smith to resign, said Thursday it “is enthusiastic at seeing the shift in political will over local control of Kansas City Police Department.”
Kiku Brooks, a MORE2 board co-chair, called local control long overdue.
“Local control will put our citizens in a position to determine where and how our money is being used and will push for increased accountability and transparency in our police department,” Brooks said. “This ultimately will transform and establish trust between law enforcement and the community it serves.”
Nathan Garrett, a member of the Board of Police Commissioners, said the current governance model is an effective, independent and apolitical method of oversight.
“I respect the voters‘ and general assembly’s right to seek a change; however, I strongly caution against the notion that a change in governance structure is the panacea for crime fighting. It’s not,” he said. “And I caution those advocating the change to ensure that any conceived model be entirely independent from political interference or motive — a lethal toxin to fair and just law enforcement.”
The police department was formed April 15, 1874. At that time, the governor was tasked with making appointments to the board.
It changed in 1932 when the Kansas City Council approved a home-rule ordinance that brought the police department under city governance. But that effort became rife with corruption and influence from then-political boss Tom Pendergast.
The authority to make board appointments returned to the governor several years later.
Gwen Grant, CEO and president of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said the City Council already has the authority to make local control a legislative priority, but it is important that citizens have a voice in the process.
“In light of the impact that this pandemic is having on the economy, funding a campaign on whether or not to have local control may not be the best use of scarce financial resources,” Grant said. “Quite frankly, the ballot language in this ordinance is superfluous. A referendum to determine the alternative governance structure would make better sense.”
Under Missouri law, the police chief serves at the pleasure of the police board and can only be terminated, suspended or demoted for cause. That includes being insubordinate, committing a crime, or acting in a manner that constitutes reckless disregard for public safety or another law enforcement officer.
Lucas said he did not talked to Chief Smith about the measure Thursday, but his staff alerted him.
“This is a question for the people of Kansas City,” Lucas said.
The earliest the department would come under local control would be within a year, Lucas said. He acknowledged issues remained in St. Louis’ experience, including the city’s still high homicides rate.
The police department is considered a state agency but is funded by Kansas City taxpayers. It was budgeted to get $273 million this fiscal year, which amounts to 16% of the city’s $1.7 billion budget.
However, the city has little control over how those dollars are spent.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 1:08 PM.
