July 8, 2022 Special Meeting
MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022
SPECIAL MEETING
A meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri was held on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at KCPD Headquarters, Ante Room – 1st Floor, 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
Mr. David V. Kenner, Secretary/Attorney
This meeting was called to order at 8:40 a.m. by Commissioner Tolbert. Board members attended the meeting via WebEx telephone conference.
Mr. Kenner advised that the Board received only one response to its Request for Proposal (RFP) for an Executive Search Firm for the Chief of Police position. The proposal bid was submitted by Mr. Gary Peterson of Public Sector Search and Consulting. Mr. Kenner noted that this is the second RFP the Board has published for this purpose, and Mr. Peterson’s firm is the only response the Board has received each time. Commissioners Dean, Wagner, Cramer, and Tolbert stated that they were in favor of Mr. Peterson’s proposal bid, and believe the Board should accept it. Mayor Lucas stated his disagreement and concerns, and believes the Board needs to seek more responses in order to compare proposals. He requested that the Board obtain proposals from at least three firms before awarding a bid.
Mr. Kenner provided a list of publications where the RFP was advertised, as well as a list of firms to which the RFP was mailed directly. He reminded the Board that the RFP was rewritten and published a second time in an attempt to obtain additional responses. Commissioner Tolbert stated that the Board has exhausted all options and has not received any traction from bidders. He stated that it is important to get this process started and not delay any longer.
The Board discussed having a meeting with Mr. Peterson to discuss the recommendations provided by the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce, to ensure that community feedback is incorporated in this hiring process. Mr. Kenner advised that he would contact Mr. Peterson to set up a meeting to discuss the community feedback results.
A motion was made by Commissioner Dean, with a second by Commissioner Wagner, to accept the Executive Search Firm for Chief of Police Proposal Bid submitted by Mr. Gary Peterson of Public Sector Search and Consulting, subject to modifications following a meeting between the Board and Mr. Peterson. The vote was 4-1 in favor; Commissioners Dean, Wagner, Cramer, and Tolbert voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Nay.
The Board adjourned at 8:55 a.m.