December 9, 2021 Minutes

MINUTES OF THE

BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS

DECEMBER 9, 2021

SPECIAL MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL

 

A meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri was held on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust Street, Kansas City. 

PRESENT:

 Commissioner Mark Tolbert, President

Commissioner Cathy Dean, Vice President

Commissioner Don Wagner, Treasurer

Commissioner Dawn Cramer, Member

Mayor Quinton Lucas, Member

Richard C. Smith, Chief of Police

ABSENT:

Mr. David V. Kenner, Secretary/Attorney

 

This meeting was called to order at 10:07 a.m. by Commissioner Tolbert.  Commissioner Dean joined the meeting via teleconference.  Mr. Kenner had an excused absence.  Councilpersons Ryana Parks-Shaw, Heather Hall, Teresa Loar, Kevin McManus, and Andrea Bough were present at the beginning of the meeting. 

Each councilperson introduced themselves and thanked the Board for the opportunity to meet, to discuss the Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget.  Councilwoman Hall stated that it is critically important to hire, recruit, and train officers to replace those that are resigning and retiring.  She explained that the hiring process takes approximately one year before the officer is out on the streets patrolling on their own because of the background process, Academy training, and probationary periods (break-in).  She believes the City Council and the Board should work together to increase the Department’s budget and the number of officers on the streets.  Councilwoman Hall stated that the amount of officers currently employed by KCPD is not an acceptable amount to cover the level of population and geography in the City.

Councilman Kevin O’Neill joined the meeting at 10:13 a.m. 

Councilwoman Parks-Shaw stressed the importance of the City Council and Board working together to make the City safe, and to create a realistic budget for the Department.  Councilwoman Bough added that South Kansas City needs more officers to respond to calls.  Councilman O’Neill spoke of the need to increase the salary for officers to be competitive with other regional agencies.  He also stated that more officers are needed throughout the City.   

Chief Smith provided an overview of the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Requested Budget.  He advised that 94 percent of the Department’s budget is personnel costs; the remaining six percent covers everything else it takes to effectively police the City.  The requested budget provides funding for 1,412 law enforcement personnel; an additional 18 positions are funded through grants.  The requested budget will provide for a fully staffed Department. 

Chief Smith spoke about the current recruitment challenges in law enforcement.  He also stated that it takes approximately one year to get an officer on the street by themselves after they are hired because of training and probationary “break in” periods.  Chief Smith added that the requested budget includes pay scale adjustments and pay raises for all employees. 

Councilwoman Melissa Robinson joined the meeting at 10:20 a.m.

Chief Smith provided a brief overview of the items included in the decision packages on the requested budget.  These items include upgrades to the portable radio system and mobile command radios, a spare engine for Department helicopters, and a camera system for the helicopters.   

Mayor Lucas joined the meeting at 10:22 a.m.

At the request of Commissioner Tolbert, Chief Smith presented a chart that ranked KCPD last for pay in a group of 11 regional agencies.  In response to a question from Councilwoman Parks-Shaw, Chief Smith advised that there is a statutory requirement that provides a five percent salary increase between ranks.  In response to a question from Councilman McManus, Chief Smith advised that statute allows for six Deputy Chiefs; the Department only has five Deputy Chiefs.  He advised that full command staff includes 77 positions.  In response to another question, Chief Smith advised that the requested budget includes 515 civilian positions. 

Commissioner Tolbert spoke about the decision package for the portable radio system and mobile command radios.  He advised City Council members that KCPD is the operator of the system, but it is used by other City Departments, such as the Fire Department, Codes, etc.  He believes the Board and City need to take action on getting this system upgraded immediately before a casualty occurs because of failed radio connections.

Councilwoman Robinson stated that mental health needs to be a shared priority between the City and Board.  Mayor Lucas stated that the Department looks closely and takes mental health seriously.  He spoke about the percentages of officers trained in crisis intervention and de-escalation.  He also spoke about the work that the Department social workers are involved in.

The group discussed the $5 million contingency fund included in the requested budget.  Commissioner Tolbert advised that the Board does not want to take funding from salaries, so the contingency fund will be used for overtime, legal expenses, and unexpected expenditures.  This contingency fund would prevent money being taken from personnel salaries, and would prevent the Department from having to lay off employees should an unexpected expenditure arise. 

Councilwoman Parks-Shaw inquired about the line in the requested budget that returns the utility responsibility back to the City.  Mayor Lucas advised that this item was his suggestion because the Department’s facilities are owned by the City.  This would provide a cost savings for the Department. 

Councilwoman Robinson spoke about the need for collaboration between the City and Department to increase community policing efforts, increasing the number of officers on the streets, and increasing investments with the youth population, such as the Police Athletic League and Youth Police Initiative.

Commissioner Wagner stated that he believes the amount of funding in Department’s requested budget is appropriate.  He advised that the Department is involved in a lot of initiatives and community policing efforts.  Commissioner Cramer added that the number of officers on the Department needs to be restored to fully staffed.  In addition to pay raises, in order to increase retention efforts, the officers need to feel supported by their City. 

The group discussed the amount of funding that gets spent on legal expenses.  Councilwoman Hall added that all City Departments have legal expenses that they do not always budget for, and that the Police Department should not be treated any differently.  Councilman O’Neill noted that the other City Departments are controlled by the City; the Police Department is controlled by the Board. 

Commissioner Cramer noted that the City received money in the American Recovery Act, but none of that money was given to KCPD.  Mayor Lucas noted that the funding was spent in a number of areas in the City.

Mayor Lucas spoke about areas for cost-savings between the Board and City, such as health care insurance.  Chief Smith advised that the Department has looked into this option; however, doing so would increase the rates for Department members.  Mayor Lucas requested that the Department complete the study again to see if that has changed.

The group discussed other ideas to enhance recruitment and retention efforts.  Chief Smith advised that pay was the biggest factor, and it needs to be increased.  The group discussed the need for additional meetings and discussions moving forward.

The meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.