June 11, 2019, Meeting
MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019
A meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri was held on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust Street, Kansas City.
PRESENT:
Commissioner Nathan Garrett, President
Commissioner Leland M. Shurin, Vice-President
Commissioner Don Wagner, Treasurer
Commissioner Mark Tolbert, Member
Mr. David V. Kenner, Secretary/Attorney
Richard C. Smith, Chief of Police
ABSENT:
Mayor Sylvester “Sly” James, Jr., Member
This meeting was called to order at 9:35 a.m. by Commissioner Garrett. P.O. Benjamin Cassell led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chaplain John Miles provided the invocation. Mayor James had an excused absence.
- Awards and Commendations. The Life-Saving Award was presented to Officers Edwin Gordillo, John Shipman and Robert VanLanker. On November 17, 2018, Officers Gordillo, Shipman and VanLanker were dispatched to Raytown Road and Manchester Trafficway on a reporting self-inflicted cutting. Once in the area, officers drove down the access road nearly a mile before they spotted the man’s blue truck. The sergeant arrived on scene and helped conduct a car check.
The officers noticed the man was in the driver’s seat hunched over the steering wheel, motionless. As they approached the vehicle, they could see through the window that he had a large laceration on his left wrist. The officers began to knock on the locked doors and windows to no avail while the subject remained unconscious. Officer VanLanker immediately took a window-breaking tool from his duty belt, and broke open the driver’s side window. Upon opening the door, the officers saw several razors in the man’s lap, along with alcohol containers and a copious amount of blood. Officer Gordillo immediately applied pressure to the gaping wound.
Meanwhile, Officer Shipman helped officers moved the man out of the vehicle, and began to apply pressure to the wound on the man’s wrist. As soon as the man was moved out of the vehicle, he started to regain consciousness and became combative. It appeared he was highly intoxicated. The officers would normally place the subject in handcuffs for everyone’s safety, but with the life-threatening laceration on his wrist, it was not an option. Officers VanLanker and Gordillo began, with extreme professionalism and composure, to restrain the man, while Officer Shipman continued applying pressure to prevent further blood loss.
Once EMS arrived on the scene, they sedated the subject, since he remained highly combative, so they could attend to his life-threatening wound. The subject was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for his serious injuries.
The Meritorious Service Award was presented to Officer Larry Dunaway. In the summer and fall of 2018, Shoal Creek Patrol Division was getting slammed with thefts from vehicles. People were leaving items of value inside of their unlocked vehicles. Community Interaction Officers tried to spread the word about this, but many people still weren’t getting reached, and the crimes persisted.
Officer Dunaway – who works Watch 1 – asked the CIOs if they had any fliers about preventing thefts from vehicles. Armed with more than 300 of them, Officer Dunaway went into the neighborhoods with the most thefts and checked vehicles. If they were unlocked or had items of value in plain view, he left a flier on the vehicle. He took another step as well, waking up and notifying residents who had left their garage doors open, as the area was experiencing burglaries resulting from that behavior, as well.
The crime prevention message reached people directly. Many of those residents told CIOs and posted to KCPD’s social media sites that they really appreciated the police doing that. Officer Dunaway got his sector involved and had everyone record results. They found even firearms left out in plain view in vehicles. The CIOs used that analysis as a selling point for communities to institute neighborhood watch programs. It even prompted some residents to go around their own neighborhoods and look for items left in vehicles and open garage doors.
Officer Dunaway also took it upon himself to investigate repeated issues with gunshots being heard in the 10700 block of North Booth in December 2018. His intelligence gathering led to a man’s arrest the day after Christmas. Police found he had meth, prescription pills, marijuana and handguns. The problems stopped after his arrest. Sergeant Corey Carlisle said, “Officer Dunaway has distinguished himself as a leader among his peers, not only for Watch 1 but for the entire Shoal Creek Patrol Division. His reliability and dedication is the embodiment of the core competencies KCPD expects of its members.”
The Meritorious Service Award was presented to Master Detective Brent Taney. For more than a decade, Master Detective Taney provided invaluable service in the Department’s Homicide Unit, and fostered relationships that eventually built a bridge between police and the families of homicide victims.
Master Detective Taney joined the Homicide Unit in September 2008, and worked there until transferring to the Bomb and Arson Section on March 31st this year. During that time, he was the primary case detective on 54 homicides and countless death investigations. He also assisted with Metro Squad cases, working alongside investigators and prosecutors around the area.
He has worked several tricky and high-profile cases during his Homicide Unit career, from tangled cases involving the homeless to the senseless death of a 14-year-old girl killed by other teens at a water park in South Kansas City in 2015. He was lead detective on the homicide of Tamara Sparks in 2011, which led to the arrest of a serial killer.
Master Detective Taney also became the primary investigator in the 2011 homicide of Antonio Robinson. Robinson is the son of Rosilyn Temple. Out of her relationship with Master Detective Taney grew Ms. Temple’s desire to be an advocate for the families of homicide victims and build a bridge between them and the police. She founded Mothers in Charge for this purpose, and has become and important partner of the Department’s.
The Distinguished Service Medal was presented to Officer Jordan Clark. Officer Clark saw a suspect commit a homicide, chased him in a vehicle pursuit into Kansas, and took a suspect into custody all by himself on the morning of August 25, 2018.
Officer Clark was watching for traffic violations at the intersection of Meyer Boulevard and Swope Parkway. He saw a Dodge Charger tear through the intersection at such a high rate of speed that he was unable to stop it. Officer Clark drove through the area looking for the vehicle, and found it parked in the driveway of a home in the 6800 block of Cleveland.
He positioned himself to conduct surveillance on the Charger. Then he heard multiple gunshots, and saw a man run to the car and speed away in it. Believing that he had just witnessed a shooting, Officer Clark pursued the driver through residential areas. The Charger eventually merged onto I-70 and then I-35, traveling at a high rate of speed. Officer Clark lost sight of the vehicle for a while but kept going in the direction he thought the driver was traveling.
As he chased the vehicle, officers responded to the house in the 6800 block of Cleveland, and found a person who had been shot to death. Meanwhile, Officer Clark caught up to the vehicle. The driver had lost control and wrecked at I-35 and Rainbow Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas. Officer Clark was still the only officer there, so he conducted the high-risk felony car check by himself, maintaining great composure while doing so. He was able to take the suspect into custody without incident.
Further investigation revealed the driver had dropped off the man who committed the homicide during the time Officer Clark lost sight of the Charger. But Officer Clark did not know that at the time and believed he could have been stopping the shooter. The driver was charged with felony resisting arrest, and his apprehension quickly led police to the homicide suspect, who was charged with first-degree murder.
The Board took a recess at 9:47 a.m. The meeting resumed at 9:55 a.m.
- Councilperson Alissia Canady. Councilperson Alissia Canady spoke about the new jail arrangements for the City, following the termination of the housing contract with the Jackson County Jail. Councilperson Canady advised that the City will use two facilities to house inmates until a permanent facility is secured. These facilities are Heartland Behavioral at 1514 Campbell Street, and a facility in Johnson County, Missouri, near Warrensburg. Heartland Behavioral has allocated 30 beds to the City and Department. Arrests that will be detained for six months or longer will be transported to the facility in Johnson County. However, Johnson County does not house any persons with medical needs, including pregnancies. The jail transition will occur on June 25, 2019.
The City is currently exploring options for a third space that will also be used to hold long-term arrests. One option is a facility in Nevada, Missouri. There are several concerns regarding the distance of the facility, such as transportation and visitation of inmates. The facility, however, is very accommodating and has 20 beds that are available to our arrests.
Councilperson Canady explained that the City is also exploring options for a permanent facility. The Council just passed a resolution directing the City Manager’s Office to release a RFQP for consultants to assist in finding the needs and process for a permanent facility.
- Chief of Police Richard C. Smith. Chief Smith advised that the Department’s Mounted Patrol Section will remain intact, and will be focusing their efforts on the violent crime in the City. Chief Smith advised that he will continue to evaluate the needs of the City and the Department’s resources.
Chief Smith spoke about the active shooter at a New Zealand mosque. He advised that CIOs and tactical teams are conducting active shooter training with local churches and houses of worship.
Chief Smith advised that the Department’s in-car camera system is near the end of life. The Department has been working with the City, and they have identified a new vendor. The Department has found funding for 340 units, but it does not come cheaply. The implementation of new in-car cameras will cost approximately $7 million.
In response to a question, Chief Smith advised the new vendor will be body camera compatible. However, this will lock the Department into this vendor for the body cameras. Body cameras will be a huge expense for the Department, but securing this vendor will build the platform for body cameras. In addition to the expense of the body cameras, Chief Smith advised that there are obstacles with the storage and server capacity. The Department continues to work with the City to find the best option for both.
Chief Smith congratulated Major Matthew “Tye” Grant on his retirement after 25+ years with the Department.
- Approval of minutes. A motion was made by Commissioner Shurin, with a second by Commissioner Tolbert, to approve the minutes of the open meeting on May 14, 2019. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
- Executive Services Bureau. Deputy Chief Mark Francisco presented the following items for Board approval:
a. Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2019-20. A memorandum dated May 31, 2019, was presented to recommend approval of budget transfers. This budget transfer will affect the General Fund, Police Grants Fund and the Grants Special Revenue Fund.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wagner, with a second by Commissioner Tolbert, to approve the budget transfers as presented. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
b. Mid-America Regional Council Subaward. A memorandum dated May 28, 2019, was presented to recommend acceptance of the ultimate acquisition of an Endeavor Robotics 510 Packbot Robotic System with federal funding in the amount of $132,565, and a local cost sharing in the amount of $9,567.23. The federal funding is being provided by the FY18 State Homeland Security Program awarded to the Mid-American Regional Council. The Department will be responsible for the local cost sharing amount. In response to a question, Deputy Chief Francisco stated that this unit replaced an old one that was beyond repair.
A motion was made by Commissioner Tolbert, with a second by Commissioner Shurin, to accept the purchase of an Endeavor Robotics 510 Packbot Robotic System with federal funding in the amount of $132,565, and a local cost from the Department of $9,567.23. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
c. Card Reader System. A memorandum dated May 13, 2019, was presented to recommend sole source approval be given to Proposal 1 from C&C to replace hardware for multiple Department card readers, at an anticipated cost of $264,635.00. Sole sourcing is necessary based upon the integration with existing systems and the proprietary software controlling the system.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wagner, with a second by Commissioner Shurin, to accept the sole source purchase of C&C’s Proposal 1, at an anticipated cost of $264.635.00. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
d. Midwest HIDTA Cooperative Award #G19MW0005A. A memorandum dated May 28, 2019, was presented to recommend acceptance of the Midwest HIDTA Cooperative Award #G19MW0005A in the amount of $1,105,945. The award period is January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020, and is 100% federally funded. This is the 22nd year for the award, and is a ten percent increase of last year’s award. This award combines the HIDTA Kansas City Metropolitan Enforcement Task Force and the Violent Crimes/Street Crimes Task Force. The Metropolitan Enforcement Task Force portion is $976,088, and the Violent Crimes Task Force portion is $129,857.
A motion was made by Commissioner Shurin, with a second by Commissioner Tolbert, to accept the Midwest HIDTA Cooperative Award #G19MW0005A in the amount of $1,105,945. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
e. Leica Laser Scanner Purchase. A memorandum dated May 30, 2019, was presented to recommend acceptance of the sole source purchase of the Leica Geosystems RTC360 laser scanner system hardware, software and services from Leica Geosystems, Inc., which maps forensic crime scenes, at a cost of $200,731.33. The purchase is funded by utilizing the Paul Coverdell Science Improvement Grant 2018-CD-BX-00067.
A motion was made by Commissioner Tolbert, with a second by Commissioner Wagner, to approve the sole source purchase of the Leica Geosystems RTC360 laser scanner system hardware at a cost of $200,731.33, utilizing funds from the Paul Coverdell Science Improvement Grant 2018-CD-BX-00067. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
f. ArtsTech First Amendment to Agreement. A memorandum dated June 3, 2019, to recommend acceptance of the First Amendment to the ArtsTech agreement. The contract period is May 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. ArtsTech acts as the fiscal sponsor for the “No Violence Alliance” initiative. The first amendment to the contract is at an anticipated $47,164.19, bringing the total amount of the contract to $148,200.01.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wagner, with a second by Commissioner Shurin, to accept the First Amendment to the ArtsTech agreement as described. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
Deputy Chief Francisco provided an update on the Communications Unit. He
advised that the Communications Unit is currently staffed with 101 members, leaving five vacant positions; offers to fill the vacant positions are in process. The 911 hold time for the month of June remained at 20 seconds, the same hold time averaged in May 2019.
- Professional Development and Research Bureau. Deputy Chief Robert Kuehl presented the Academy Class Summary for June 2019. He advised that the 167th Entrant Officer Class will begin on June 17, 2019. In response to a question, Deputy Chief Kuehl advised that there is a written and physical test that applicants must pass before being accepted into the Regional Police Academy.
Deputy Chief Kuehl advised that the Police Athletic League is averaging 40-50 youth in attendance at their PAL Nights sessions. PAL Nights occur every weekend on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Deputy Chief Kuehl presented the following consent agenda item for approval:
a. Project #1126: Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) Technique
After a video demonstration of the Tactical Vehicle Intervention Technique, a motion was made by Commissioner Shurin, with a second by Commissioner Tolbert, to approve the consent agenda items as presented. The vote was 4-0.
- Investigations Bureau. Deputy Chief Roger Lewis presented the Investigations Bureau report for May 2019. He advised that to-date in 2019, there have been 58 homicides, compared to 52 at this time last year. There were 45 non-fatal shootings in May 2019, compared to 35 in April 2019 and 36 in May 2018. To-date in 2019, there have been 210 living shooting victims identified, compared to 189 at this time last year. There have been 28 living shooting victims so far in June 2019, compared to 13 at this time last year.
Deputy Chief Lewis advised that narcotic related arrests are up. Seizures of cocaine and heroin are also up, but seizures of meth and marijuana are trending down. He noted that the number of drug interdictions is also higher than it was at this time last year.
There were 42 drive by shootings in May 2019, compared to 42 at this time last year. There was been 187 drive by shootings year-to-date. There have been 99 victims identified, 12 of which were injured.
- Administration Bureau. Deputy Chief Sharon Laningham presented the Regional Criminalistics Division monthly statistics for June 2019 and the Human Resources Personnel Summary dated June 5, 2019. For this time period, Department strength is 1,317 sworn law enforcement and 569 career civilians. She noted that the 167th Entrant Officer Class beginning on June 17th will have 45 KCPD recruits. A lateral class of three will begin on July 1st.
Deputy Chief Laningham spoke about the three sessions of Youth Police Academy this summer that will occur on June 17-21 at East Patrol Division Station, July 8-12 at the Regional Police Academy, and July 22-26 at South Patrol Division Station. Youth between the ages of 12-15 years of age are invited to attend. There are 30 youth signed up for the East Patrol session.
- Patrol Bureau. Major Steven Young spoke for Deputy Chief Karl Oakman during his absence. Major Young presented the Monthly Offense Report for April 2019. He advised that the April statistics are not accurate. The inaccuracies are due to the transfer of the Department’s records management system to Niche. He believes the issues with the new system will be resolved within the month.
Major Young presented the Traffic Summary for the month of May 2019. He advised that speeding tickets are down for the month of May, due to staffing. He believes that staffing issues will get better with the next few Academy classes graduating. Major Young also advised that the Department’s Traffic Unit is in a trial period with Thin Blue Line Mobile Ticketing. The statistics from Thin Blue Line are not compatible with the current software, therefore aren’t reflected on the Traffic Summary for May. Commissioner Garrett expressed concern with the inaccuracy of statistics displayed in the Board report.
There have been 67,166 total citations issued to-date 2019, compared to 63,269 at this time last year. Major Young noted that the Parking Control Section issued 7,784 citations in May 2019, compared to 5,039 in April 2019. There have been 22 fatality motor vehicle accidents in to-date 2019, compared to 28 at this time last year.
- Office of General Counsel. General Counsel Jenny Atterbury presented the following Private Officer License appeals:
a. Private Officer License Appeal, Mr. Sean Solomon. A memorandum dated May 22, 2019, was presented to recommend the revocation of the armed private security license of Mr. Sean Solomon. The basis of the revocation is outlined in Title 17 of the Code of State Regulations, Section 10-2.060(8)(H)(I), which stipulates, “The chief of police or his/her designee may impose a fine, order probation, order a suspension, or revoke a license of any company,” granted under section 84.720 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri pursuant to the procedures set forth in section (10) of this rule, when there exists information that the licensee is an organization, any of its officers, directors, partners, or associates has, “Provided other facts or actions which demonstrate that the applicant is unsuitable or ineligible to continue to hold a license.” On May 1, 2019, while attending private security firearm qualifications at the Kansas City, Missouri Regional Police Academy Pistol Ranger, Mr. Solomon was advised several times during the initial check in and on the range to tuck in his shirt and keep it tucked in, as it interfered with his weapon being drawn from the holster and was a safety violation. Mr. Solomon was removed from the range for the safety violation. After Mr. Solomon was given the paper work, he stated twice that he was going to kill himself. Mr. Solomon’s statement to harm himself while armed with a firearm was in the presence of Private Officer Licensing Manager Tamy Gallagher, Sergeant Ward Smith and Firearms Instructor Dave Andress. Mr. Solomon was ultimately taken into custody after he ran from the range, and was transported to North Kansas City Hospital for evaluation.
During discussion of the incident, Commissioner Tolbert advised the Board that he knows Mr. Solomon and his family. Mr. Tolbert advised that this incident was extremely out of character for Mr. Solomon, and Mr. Solomon is asking for a chance to redeem himself.
After discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Tolbert, with a second by Commissioner Wagner, to uphold the appeal and grant the armed security license to Mr. Sean Solomon. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
- Commissioner Leland Shurin. Commissioner Shurin explained that he reads every Board report thoroughly each month. He also recognized Gay Pride Month, and expressed his support to the citizens in the City that are gay, along with the members of the Department.
- Scheduled meetings.
The Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri has scheduled the following meetings:
Board Hearing:
In Re: The Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings of P.O. Daniel Straub #5211
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CONTINUED FROM ITS CURRENT SETTING OF MAY 10, 2019, AND WILL BE RESET FOR A FUTURE DATE TO BE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD.
Audit Committee Meeting:
June 27, 2019, 9:00 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.
Regular Meetings:
July 9, 2019, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.
August 20, 2019, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.
September 17, 2019, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.
October 22, 2019, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.
November 19, 2019, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.
December 10, 2019, 9:30 a.m., at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City.
A motion was made by Commissioner Tolbert, with a second by Commissioner Wagner, and by vote indicated below, to adjourn its open meeting at 11:33 a.m. and reconvene in closed session as provided in the following resolution. Following a roll call, the vote was 4-0 in favor.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, notice of the board meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners was given on August 24, 2018, 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, June 11, 2019, at KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 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 Nathan Garrett - Aye
Commissioner Leland Shurin - Aye
Commissioner Don Wagner - Aye
Commissioner Mark Tolbert - 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 June 11, 2019:
The Board went into closed session at 11:45 a.m. Mayor James had an excused absence.
1) Following a motion by Commissioner Shurin and a second by Commissioner Tolbert, the Board voted to authorize certain settlement authority for the claim of Mohamad Adan, in an amount not to exceed $___.1 The vote was 4-0 in favor. Following polling, Commissioner Garrett voted Aye, Commissioner Shurin voted Aye, Commissioner Tolbert voted Aye, and Commissioner Wagner voted Aye.
2) Following a motion by Commissioner Tolbert and a second by Commissioner Shurin, the Board voted to approve the applications for continued employment of Deputy Chief Roger Lewis, Captain Roy True, Reserve Detective Brent Marchant, and Reserve Sergeant Michael Coughlin. The vote was 4-0 in favor. Following polling, Commissioner Garrett voted Aye, Commissioner Shurin voted Aye, Commissioner Tolbert voted Aye, and Commissioner Wagner voted Aye.
3) Following a motion by Commissioner Tolbert and a second by Commissioner Wagner, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the closed sessions of the Board of Police Commissioners on May 14, 2019. The vote was 4-0 in favor. Following polling, Commissioner Garrett voted Aye, Commissioner Shurin voted Aye, Commissioner Tolbert voted Aye, and Commissioner Wagner voted Aye.
4) Following a motion by Commissioner Wagner and a second by Commissioner Tolbert, the Board voted to come out of closed session and adjourn. The vote was 4-0 in favor. Following polling, Commissioner Garrett voted Aye, Commissioner Shurin voted Aye, Commissioner Tolbert voted Aye, and Commissioner Wagner voted Aye.
|
The meeting adjourned at 12:21 p.m.
____________________
President
_______________________
Secretary/Attorney
Board of Police Commissioners Minutes