Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas staved off criticism in successfully pushing through a plan to allocate 20% of the city’s general fund – more than $150 million – to the city’s police department but earmark anything above that for other expenditures.
Kansas City Northland Republicans want special session on KCPD budget changes Jeanne Kuang, The Kansas City Star
May 26 JEFFERSON CITY Four Missouri state representatives who represent parts of the Northland asked Gov. Mike Parson Wednesday for a special legislative session to push back on Mayor Quinton Lucas s plans to take some control over part of Kansas City Police Department s budget.
The proposals, approved by a supermajority of City Council members last Thursday hours after Lucas introduced them, take $42.3 million out of KCPD s $239 million budget and place the money in a newly created fund for Community Services and Prevention to underwrite innovative ways of fighting crime. City Hall will negotiate with the state-appointed Board of Police Commissioners over how to spend it.
A bill to eliminate KCPD's residency requirement is sitting on Gov. Mike Parson's desk. It passed by a 31-2 vote in the Missouri Senate earlier this month. Some fear it would splinter police-community relations.
by John Haughey, The Center Square contributor | May 24, 2021 05:00 PM Print this article
Missouri lawmakers passed a bill during their recently concluded legislative session that would penalize cities that cut police budgets and bolster protections for officers under investigation for misconduct.
Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Springs, was filed to thwart efforts to defund the police” by diverting funds normally earmarked for law enforcement into hiring social workers to handle domestic violence 911 calls.
The bill, which is on Gov. Mike Parson’s desk awaiting his signature, would go into effect on Aug. 28.
But that would be too late to nix Thursday’s adoption of two ordinances by the Kansas City Council that change, and perhaps “defund,” the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD).
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The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners has voted to explore legal action against a plan by Mayor Quinton Lucas to get more local control of the police department.
Mayor Quinton Lucas faces potential blocks from the police board, state Republicans and Northland city council members, but civil rights groups are praising the plan to get more local control of the police budget.
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners has voted to seek legal redress against a plan by one of its own members who is trying to get more local control of the police department and move away from state hands.