Northland initiative aims to reduce narcotic, property and violent crimes

Over the past two days, Aug. 24-25, KCPD joined with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department in an effort to combat crime in Kansas City, North, related to methamphetamine and heroin use.

Members of KCPD’s Drug Enforcement Unit and officers of the two northland patrol stations (North and Shoal Creek patrol divisions) joined Clay County Sheriff’s deputies to conduct multiple residence checks for subjects wanted on possession of methamphetamine and heroin warrants. Many of the wanted subjects are involved in property crimes, including car theft, stealing, fraud and forgery.

The two-day enforcement effort focused on individuals who are components of criminal networks in the northern part of Kansas City, to include both Clay and Platte Counties. The initiative was centered on their primary area of influence in the southern parts of Kansas City’s Northland, which is primarily within Clay County.

Prior to the initiative, the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed more than 40 cases connected to the meth- and heroin-related cases. The individuals in these cases were identified as being related to other crimes in the Northland, such as property and violent crimes.

Police arrested a total of 19 people during the two-day initiative. This cleared 71 city, state and federal warrants and brought 18 new charges. More new charges are likely to be filed as detectives work the cases further. Various narcotics and illegal firearms also were recovered during the initiative, including marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, rifles and a couple of firearm silencer devices.

The initiative also included 40 residence checks at homes identified as being drug houses or related to other criminal activities. Police tried to contact neighbors to advise them why they were there and how they could help make their neighborhoods safer. Officers emphasized that safer neighborhoods only can be achieved with community cooperation.

The goal of this collaborated effort was to reduce volume crimes such as thefts, stolen vehicles, burglaries and violent crimes in the Kansas City area. These efforts are on-going and will continue through a collaborated effort between the Kansas City Police Department, Clay and Platte County sheriff’s departments, Clay and Platte County prosecutor’s offices and other area law enforcement.