Kansas City police board appoints head of investigations bureau as interim chief
Deputy Chief Joe Mabin, who leads the Kansas City Police Department’s investigations bureau, was named Friday as interim chief of the force after Chief Rick Smith announced his retirement date.
A 22-year veteran of KCPD, Mabin will serve as the city’s interim top cop once Smith leaves and until a permanent replacement is chosen. Mayor Quinton Lucas confirmed Mabin will not apply for the permanent job.
“We’re confident that the department will be in good hands during this interim period while we engage with the community in the process of hiring a new chief,” Lucas said.
Earlier Friday, Smith announced he will retire April 22, months after police board members decided to force him out. Smith, however, has maintained he always planned to retire after five years on the job.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker noted that Kansas City’s violence rates are among the highest in the city’s history.
“I still believe violence is preventable with the right community partnerships,” Baker said in an email to The Star. “And I believe today marks a chance to change those violence outcomes, especially where it’s needed most, in our most vulnerable neighborhoods.
“I know Interim Chief Mabin and I respect him. I look forward to partnering with him to decrease violence and increase our credibility in those communities.”
Mabin has held a host of titles within the police department over the last 20 years. He became a police officer in November 2000 and was first assigned to the Central Patrol Division.
Mabin later took on assignments in the Police Athletic League and the Internal Affairs Unit and was promoted to sergeant in 2007. He served in that role in the Metro Patrol Division, the homicide unit, the street crimes undercover squad and the violent crimes intelligence squad.
In 2016, Mabin became a captain and commanded the robbery and training units. Then in 2020, he was promoted to major and spent a year commanding the Shoal Creek Patrol Division in the Northland before assuming command of the Violent Crimes Division.
The next year, Mabin rose to become one of five deputy chiefs. He currently commands the investigations bureau, which consists of the violent crimes division, among others.
Mabin holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida A&M University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 11:24 AM.
