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January 23, 2024 Meeting

Publish Date 01/23/2024

MINUTES OF THE

BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

 

 

A meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri was held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, in the Community Room at Police Headquarters, 1125 Locust Street, Kansas City.

PRESENT:

Commissioner Cathy Dean, President

Commissioner Dawn Cramer, Vice President

Commissioner Tom Whittaker, Treasurer

Mr. David Kenner, Secretary/Attorney

Stacey Graves, Chief of Police

ABSENT:

Mayor Quinton Lucas, Member

 

This meeting was called to order at 9:27 a.m. by Commissioner Dean.  Records Unit Supervisor Sandra Perkins led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Chaplain John “Modest” Miles provided the invocation.  Mayor Lucas was absent during open session, but attended closed session.    

  1. Guest Presentations. Amy Coffman from the KC Chamber and Sergeant Ann Hope made a presentation on Welcoming KC.  Welcoming KC is a program that assists organizations in having intentional, inclusive policies, practices, and norms that enable all residents to live, thrive, and contribute fully – including immigrants.  Ms. Coffman advised that in 2019, immigrants shared seven percent of the City’s population (150,854).  In 2019, immigrants paid $1.3 billion in taxes, and had $3.5 billion in spending power. 

            In 2024, Welcoming KC has started working with the Mayor’s Office on the Certified Welcoming application.  Certified Welcoming is a formal designation for local governments that have created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion.  This innovative program assesses local governments on their efforts to include and welcome immigrants in all areas of civic, social, and economic life in their communities.  Certification is awarded on a 1-5 Star level. 

            To achieve Certified Welcoming, Welcoming KC recommends the Department and City have regular bi-directional communications, regular community engagement, language access, and integration of immigrant inclusion strategies across all departments.  Ms. Coffman commended the Department’s language line and inaugural Spanish Citizen Police Academy.  She recommended adding more languages to the language line and making the Spanish Citizen Police Academy an annual event.  She also recommended training officers on the language line, and translating Department documents to share throughout neighborhoods.

Councilman Crispin Rea, 4th District-at-Large, presented on behalf of the City Council.  Commissioner Rea thanked Welcoming KC for their presentation.  He advised that Mayor Pro-Tem Rayna Parks-Shaw has been working on immigrant inclusion in all City services. 

Councilman Rea advised that the designated committee is actively reviewing options for a City detention and rehabilitation facility.  He advised that the committee is evaluating needs for the facility (bed count), nature of the beds (detention versus mental health treatment), funding, and the facility location. The committee has received a lot of valuable feedback from their listening sessions.  They have re-engaged with the forensic analyst that completed the 2019 study.  Since needs have changed since 2019, additional review is needed. 

Councilman Rea thanked Chief Graves and Commissioner Whittaker for relaying their shared concern for downtown safety and security.  He looks forward to continued communication regarding this issue. 

Councilman Rea invited Chief Graves, or her designee, to present the 2023 homicide statistics to Councilmembers.  He also spoke about the focused deterrence model and believes this will contribute to a violent crime decline in the coming years. 

Councilman Rea spoke of the Kansas City Chiefs’ season success and the possibility of another Super Bowl victory parade and rally.  He thanked the Department for their planning and coordination of such events. 

  1. General Discussion from the Chief of Police. Chief Stacey Graves advised that last Sunday, January 21, 2024, patrol officers switched to the 11-hour shift.  She advised that this change will provide better coverage in the field and will allow officers more time off to decompress.  Chief Graves also advised that the Central Patrol Division Footbeat Section was re-staffed with two officers.  These officers will be deployed downtown.  The Strategic Policing Section was created, and will be staffed with six officers and one sergeant.  All of these changes put more officers in the field at a time to handle calls for service and proactive enforcement. 

            Chief Graves announced that, in partnership with 3rd District Councilmembers, the Department is finalizing a location for the Community Action Network (CAN) Center on the City’s East side, near 31st and Prospect.  

Chief Graves advised that Executive Staff will hold their first “teams meeting” for KCPD’s version of the CompStat program.  This program will ensure efficiency and accountability within the Department and its leaders.   
            Chief Graves shared that, “a wise person recently told me to stop focusing on how many officers we are short, and continue thanking all of those that are here putting in the work and serving our City every day.”  Chief Graves thanked all Department members for their dedication to serving, and stated that she values and supports every one of the Department’s members. 

  1. Investigations Bureau. Deputy Chief Doug Niemeier provided an update on crime statistics.  He advised that in 2023, there were a total of 182 homicides.  The Department cleared 100 of the 2023 homicides, plus 33 homicides from additional years, totaling 133 homicides cleared in 2023.  The Department’s clearance rate for 2023 was 73 percent, which is well above the national average.    Chief Graves commended the work of the homicide detectives.

Deputy Chief Niemeier advised that there were 11 homicides that occurred in December 2023.  He advised that of those 11 homicides, two were due to arguments, two were due to robberies, one was retaliatory, and the causes of the six others remain unknown.  Deputy Chief Niemeier advised there has been three homicides to-date 2024, compared to seven homicides during the same time period in 2023.  Two of these homicides involved firearms and one involved a knife. 

Deputy Chief Niemeier advised there were 511 non-fatal shootings in 2023, compared to 540 in 2022.  There were 34 non-fatal shootings in December 2023, compared to 38 in December 2022.  There have been an additional 24 non-fatal shootings this month, compared to 33 during this same time period in 2023. 

            Deputy Chief Niemeier spoke about cases submitted for prosecution.  In December 2023, there were 312 cases submitted for prosecution; there were 255 cases submitted to Jackson County, 38 to Clay County, and 19 to Platte County.   Deputy Chief Niemeier noted that detectives seized 700 pounds of meth in December 2023. 

  1. Patrol Bureau. Deputy Chief Joseph Mabin spoke of the notable events within the Patrol Bureau in December 2023.  Deputy Chief Mabin presented monthly statistics for the Patrol Bureau.  He advised that the median response time for Priority 10 calls (also known as Priority 1) for the month of December was 8.32 minutes; the Department’s Priority 10 response time goal is 7.50 minutes.  The Priority 20 (also known as Priority 2) response time for the month of December was 10.67 minutes; the Department’s Priority 20 response time goal is 9.00 minutes.  The response time is the amount of time from when the call is created until an officer arrives on scene.

Members of the Traffic Division presented the 2023 year-end traffic crash statistics.  Sergeant Deb Randol advised that in 2023, the City had 90 fatal crashes with 102 victims.  Of the 90 fatal crashes, 11 of them resulted in multiple deaths; one crash had three victims, and ten crashes had two victims.  Twenty-four of the 90 fatal crashes involved a single vehicle. 

Sergeant Randol advised that the Department determined that 37 of the fatal victims were not wearing their seatbelts.  Impairment was a factor in a majority of the fatalities.  Three crashes involved alcohol, 18 involved drugs, and 19 involved a combination of alcohol and drugs.  There were 17 hit-and-run accidents, so impairment is unknown in those.  The toxicology reports are still pending in eight fatalities. 

Sergeant Randol advised that 20 fatal crashed involved pedestrians.  There were ten pedestrian deaths that occurred on the highway.  Of the 20 pedestrian victims, 12 were confirmed to have alcohol and/or drugs in their system when they were struck.  Toxicology results are unknown for three pedestrian victims, and still pending for three other pedestrian victims.  Sergeant Randol advised that commercial motor vehicles were involved in seven of the 90 crashes; four of those crashes involved another vehicle, and three involved pedestrians. 

Sergeant Randol urged people to slow down, wear seatbelts and helmets, and do not drive while impaired.  She advised the Department participates in preventative measures such as traffic enforcement at high crash locations, DUI wolf packs, DUI youth alcohol events, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact panels.

Major David Jackson, Dr. Ernest Fields, Jr., and Officer Cyrus Rodgers provided an update on an ongoing initiative at Ruskin High School called Pizza with Police.  This effort is to build relationships between youth and law enforcement, encouraging good behavior of students and willingness to speak with officers regarding problems at the school. 

  1. Administration Bureau. Deputy Chief Luis Ortiz provided an update on Department staffing.  He advised that as of December 31, 2023, Department strength was 1,640.  For this time period, there were 1,091 sworn law enforcement personnel, 36 recruits, 509 professional staff, and four Board members; there were 231 total vacancies.

Deputy Chief Ortiz advised that there are 22 candidates in the process for possible eligibility for the Academy class beginning in March 2024.  Seven candidates have been confirmed for this class; five additional pending offers have been made.

Deputy Chief Ortiz advised that the Department hired two new members in the Communications Unit. He noted that there is one pending job offer for the Communications Unit and six people in the process for possible eligibility.

The Department held law enforcement testing on January 20, 2024.  There were 30 participants; 21 participants passed the physical agility test.  The written tests are still being graded.  The Department will hold additional law enforcement testing on February 22, 2024, March 20, 2024, and April 27, 2024, at the Regional Police Academy.  The Department continues to hire for all positions.  More information can be found at https://www.kcpd.org/careers/. 

Deputy Chief Ortiz highlighted the Department’s Wellness Unit.  Members of the Wellness Unit have attended every rollcall session to speak with members.  They had 464 contacts within a six-week period.  Deputy Chief Ortiz highlighted the Department’s Recruitment Section.  Recruiters attended multiple events this past month.

Deputy Chief Ortiz advised that the 179th Entrant Officer Class (EOC) will graduate on February 8, 2024.  There are 17 KCPD recruits in this class and 14 recruits from other regional agencies.  The 180th EOC began training in October 2023, and will graduate on May 16, 2024.  There are currently 16 KCPD recruits in this class and 7 recruits from other regional agencies.  The 181st EOC will begin training on March 18, 2024. 

  1. Executive Services Bureau.   Deputy Chief Derek McCollum presented the following items for Board approval:
  2. Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2023-24.  A memorandum dated January 12, 2024, was presented recommending approval of budget transfers.  This transfer will affect the General Fund, the Police Grants Fund, and the Grants Special Revenue Fund.     

            A motion was made by Commissioner Cramer, with a second by Commissioner Whittaker, to approve the budget transfers as presented.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.

  1. Adjustment to Special Revenue Accounts for Fiscal Year 2023-24.  A memorandum dated January 11, 2024, was presented to recommend approval of an adjustment in the amount of $500 from the Federal Seizure & Forfeiture Fund to the Contractual Services Fund for bank fees.

            A motion was made by Commissioner Cramer, with a second by Commissioner Whittaker, to approve the adjustment to special revenue accounts in the amount of $500, as presented.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.

  1. Adjustment to Special Revenue Accounts for Fiscal Year 2023-24.  A memorandum dated January 11, 2024, was presented to recommend approval of an adjustment in the amount of $100,000 from the Private Donations Special Services Fund to the Commodities – Minor Equipment Fund to facilitate various donations as they were received.   

            A motion was made by Commissioner Cramer, with a second by Commissioner Whittaker, to approve the adjustment to special revenue accounts in the amount of $100,000, as presented.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.

  1. KC Violent Crime Reduction Subaward. A memorandum dated January 5, 2024, was presented to recommend acceptance of the KC Violent Crime Reduction Subaward in the amount of $4,000,000, for the period of December 1, 2022 through June 30, 2026.  A local match of $4,000,000 is being provided through projects funded by the Police Foundation of Kansas City.  

            A motion was made by Commissioner Cramer, with a second by Commissioner Whittaker, to accept the KC Violent Crime Reduction Subaward in the amount of $4,000,000.00, as presented.  The vote was 3-0 in favor. 

            Commissioner Cramer thanked Tye Grant, President of the Police Foundation of Kansas City, for the support that the Foundation provides to the Department. 

  1. Chief’s Office Executive Officer. Deputy Chief Steve Young presented the following consent agenda items for Board consideration:
  2. Project #1413:  Re-employment of Former Department Members
  3. Project #1472:  Reserve Sworn Members’ Volunteer Program

            A motion was made by Commissioner Whittaker, with a second by Commissioner Cramer, to approve Project #1413, Re-employment of Former Department Members, as presented.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.

            A motion was made by Commissioner Whittaker, with a second by Commissioner Cramer, to approve Project #1472, Reserve Sworn Members’ Volunteer Program, as presented.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.

  1. Office of the General Counsel. General Counsel Nathan Weinert presented the following item for Board consideration:
  2. Private Officer License Appeal of Joshua E. Jones.  A memorandum dated January 2, 2024, was presented to recommend the denial of the unarmed private security license of Joshua E. Jones.  The basis for the denial is outlined Title 17 of the Code of State Regulations Section 10-2.050 (3)(H), which stipulates, “each applicant must be of good moral character by having no felony convictions, misdemeanor convictions, or city ordinance convictions, which have an essential element of fraud, dishonesty, an act of violence, bribery, illegal drug use, sexual misconduct, and other similar acts constituting moral turpitude.”  On June 8, 2022, Mr. Jones was convicted of two misdemeanor charges for assault and property damage in Gladstone, Missouri. 

            A motion was made by Commissioner Whittaker, with a second by Commissioner Cramer, to uphold the decision by the Private Officers Licensing Unit to deny the unarmed private security license of Joshua E. Jones.   The vote was 3-0 in favor. 

  1. Public Comments. There were no people signed up to provide public comment, but Commissioner Dean spoke about a comment that was received via e-mail regarding houseless individuals.  Commissioner Dean advised that this concern was forwarded to the appropriate City entity for handling. 
  2. Office of Community Complaints. Director Merrell Bennekin advised that the office is gathering 2023 complaint data to present at next month’s meeting. 
  3. Mr. David Kenner. Mr. Kenner presented Board Resolution 24-01, a resolution authorizing the Chief of Police to sign designated documents, and Board Resolution 24-02, a resolution establishing a policy for grant applications, awards, subawards, memorandums of understanding, and funding agreements.  These resolutions were updated to reflect current policy and practices, and they rescind Board Resolutions 05-03 and 05-04. 

            A motion was made by Commissioner Whittaker, with a second by Commissioner Cramer, to approve Board Resolution 24-01, as presented.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.

            A motion was made by Commissioner Whittaker, with a second by Commissioner Cramer, to approve Board Resolution 24-02, as presented.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.

Mr. Kenner presented Board Resolution 24-03, Deferred Compensation Committee Appointments.  This resolution was updated to reflect changes in personnel.  This resolution rescinds Board Resolution 23-04.

            A motion was made by Commissioner Cramer, with a second by Commissioner Whittaker, to approve Board Resolution 24-03, as presented.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.

  1. Commissioner Tom Whittaker. Commissioner Whittaker thanked Chief Graves for the Department’s pro-active approach and meeting next week with the Downtown Council of Kansas City, regarding public safety measures in the downtown area.
  2. Commissioner Dawn Cramer. Commissioner Cramer stated that 2023 was a tough and violent year for the City.  She believes the Department is implementing good strategies to improve crime rates.  She thanked the Department members for all their hard work.  
  3. Commissioner Cathy Dean. Commissioner Dean advised that the Department’s salary study will be for all professional staff positions, not just for the Communications Unit.  She thanked the Chief and Department members for all their hard work.
  4. Scheduled meetings. The Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri has scheduled the following meetings:

Litigation Committee Meeting:

 

February 19, 2024, 3:00 p.m., at Graves Garrett LLC, 1100 Main Street, Suite 2700, Kansas City.

 

Regular Meetings:

 

February 20, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

March 19, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

April 23, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

May 28, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

June 25, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

July 30, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

August 20, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

September 10, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

October 29, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

November 19, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

December 17, 2024, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Whittaker, with a second by Commissioner Cramer, and by vote indicated below, to go into closed session at 11:04 a.m., as provided in the following resolution.  Following a roll call, the vote was 3-0 in favor. 

 

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, notice of the board meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners was given on July 10, 2023, and

WHEREAS, said notice indicated that the Board of Police Commissioners might go into closed session during said meeting, and

WHEREAS, notice of the closed meeting follows the guidelines of Section 610.020 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Police Commissioners go into closed session during the meeting being held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at KCPD Headquarters, 1125 Locust Street, Kansas City, for the purpose of discussing personnel matters, labor negotiations, and litigation matters.

The following Commissioners were present and voted to go into closed session as follows:

Commissioner Tom Whittaker                                    -           Aye

Commissioner Dawn Cramer                                     -           Aye

Commissioner Cathy Dean                                         -           Aye

            There being a quorum present and the question of holding a closed session having received an affirmative public vote of at least three (3) members, a closed meeting was held as set forth above.

Below are the votes from the closed session of the Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, January 23, 2024:

The Board went into closed session at 11:18 a.m.  Mayor Lucas joined the meeting shortly after the Board went into closed session.

1)         Following a motion by Mayor Lucas and a second by Commissioner Cramer, the Board voted to authorize certain settlement authority in the case of Roderick Reed v. Charles Prichard, et al, in an amount not to exceed $___[1], and authorized Commissioner Whittaker to sign the settlement agreement.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, Commissioner Whittaker voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.

2)         Following a motion by Commissioner Cramer and a second by Mayor Lucas, the Board voted to approve the applications for continued employment of Reserve Police Officer Patrick McKenzie, Reserve Police Officer David Edwards, Police Officer Eric Hoskins, and Sergeant Michael Moats.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, Commissioner Whittaker voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye. 

3)          Following a motion by Commissioner Whittaker and a second by Mayor Lucas, the Board voted to approve the Letter of Understanding with Lodge 99 of the Fraternal Order of Police concerning Articles 26 and 27 of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, Commissioner Whittaker voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.

4)         Following a motion by Mayor Lucas, and a second by Commissioner Cramer, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the closed Board meeting on December 12, 2023.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.  Commissioner Whittaker abstained from the vote.

5)         Following a motion by Commissioner Whittaker, and a second by Mayor Lucas, the Board voted to go into special closed session to discuss personnel matters at 12:10 p.m.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, Commissioner Whittaker voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.

6)         Following a motion by Mayor Lucas, and a second by Commissioner Cramer, the Board voted to raise Chief Stacey Graves’s salary to $240,000 per year, effective as of January 23, 2024.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, Commissioner Whittaker voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.

7)         Following a motion by Mayor Lucas, and a second by Commissioner Cramer, the Board voted to come out of closed session at 12:50 p.m.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, Commissioner Whittaker voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.

8)         Following a motion by Mayor Lucas, and a second by Commissioner Cramer, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the open Board meeting on December 12, 2023.  The vote was 3-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.  Commissioner Whittaker abstained from the vote.

9)         Following a motion by Mayor Lucas, and a second by Commissioner Cramer, the Board voted to adjourn at 12:51 p.m.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, Commissioner Whittaker voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.

            The Board adjourned at 12:51 p.m.