Star Politics: Wife of former KCPD sergeant picked for police board
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Gov. Mike Kehoe appointed Heather Hall to Kansas City's police board, sparking backlash.
- Activists cite Hall’s past opposition to local control and police residency rules.
- Hall will serve as acting member pending Missouri Senate confirmation in 2025.
Editor’s note: The following is from today’s Star Politics newsletter, published weekly on Wednesdays. You can sign up here.
Hello, Star readers.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at the fallout over the Missouri governor’s controversial pick to serve on the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.
Next, we’ll get into:
• Sick leave sacked: Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a bill undoing paid sick leave protections for most Missouri workers — a key part of Proposition A, which voters overwhelmingly supported.
• Playing favorites: A partisan divide is emerging between Kansas Republican and Democratic officials over whether the Royals or Chiefs would be a better fit for the state.
This week in politics
Former Kansas City City Council member Heather Hall’s nomination to serve on the board that oversees KCPD drew swift rebukes from police accountability activists who questioned her objectivity and willingness to hold officers accountable for misconduct.
During her time on the city council from 2015-2023, Hall, who is married to retired KCPD Sgt. Eben Hall, voiced opposition to reinstating local control over the force and advocated for removing the Kansas City residency requirement for police officers.
“Hall is a conflict of interest and everyone knows it. Shame on Gov. Kehoe,” said Lora McDonald, executive director of the Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equality.
Sheryl Ferguson, an organizer with It’s Time 4 Justice, called Hall “the worst appointment ever.”
“There’s nothing wrong necessarily with being pro-cop, except for when you have cops that are vilifying certain neighborhoods in Kansas City,” Ferguson said.
Others cheered Kehoe’s pick.
“Heather is a common-sense leader who will serve our community with integrity,” said First District City Council member Nathan Willett, pointing to Hall’s volunteer work on behalf of homeless veterans and children with disabilities.
Hall, who did not respond to requests for comment, will serve as an acting member of the board pending confirmation from the Missouri Senate.
More from this past week
• The Trump administration is withholding $43 million in federal funding from Kansas public schools even though Congress approved the money for key programs.
• Missouri’s proposed abortion ban that voters are set to decide on next year would also restrict medical care for transgender minors. But that treatment is already illegal under state law.
• Two new candidates have joined the Kansas governor’s race — a popular Republican state insurance commissioner and a former Wichita school board member who wants to remake the public education system.
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That’s all for now! See you next week.
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This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM.