Over objections, Missouri House votes to lift police residency rule in Kansas City
Missouri lawmakers gave initial approval Wednesday afternoon to a bill lifting residency requirements for police officers across the state, including Kansas City.
The bill originally focused on the City of St. Louis. But an amendment carried by Republican state Rep. Nick Schroer of St. Charles County expanded the legislation’s provisions statewide — over the objections of Kansas City lawmakers.
The change is also opposed by Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith, whose spokesman said Wednesday that Smith “is in support of the residency requirement the way it is currently.”
Local officials in St. Louis pushed for lawmakers to pass legislation lifting the requirement, but didn’t expect it to include Kansas City.
Sworn officers in Kansas City must reside in the city for one year before beginning employment, and civilian workers have nine months to move into the city. They must reside within the Kansas City limits for as long as they work in the department.
Supporters of the requirement say Kansas City officers have many more options to comply than police in St. Louis because Kansas City is much larger: 319 square miles compared to only 62 square miles.
Schroer said Wednesday that the department has had trouble recruiting officers at a time when it is “plagued with crime.”
He offered his amendment while the bill was in committee, but opposition from Kansas City helped get it removed. He said he heard from Kansas City officers who asked him to continue his work to include the city in the bill.
“This is needed to combat crime, and for the liberty of these individuals to live where they want to live in this state,” Schroer said, later adding: “This will help in the recruitment process and bring the best and the brightest into the community.”
Democratic Rep. Peter Merideth of St. Louis said his preference would be for the legislature to leave decisions like these up to the cities, especially when voters in St. Louis have expressed opposition to lifting the residency requirement.
But if it is going to set a policy, Merideth said, it should apply to everyone and not “target my city.”
Rep. Ingrid Burnett, D-Kansas City, said she hasn’t heard from any constituents or police officers asking to lift the residency requirement.
“It makes me gravely nervous to be asked to support this when this is the first I’ve heard of it,” Burnett said. “And it’s a big issue. It’s not something that has light consequences.”
Democratic Rep. Barbara Washington of Kansas City said lawmakers should not foist this change on a local government that clearly opposes it.
“Our officers don’t want this,” she said. “Our citizens don’t want this.”
The House must approve the bill one more time in order to send it to the Senate, where it is expected to run into opposition from Kansas City-area lawmakers.
However, the two Senate seats covering most of Kansas City are vacant following the resignations of Democrats Jason Holsman and Kiki Curls to take jobs in Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s administration.
The Star’s Glenn Rice contributed to this story.
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 5:14 PM.
