Welcome, Commissioner Kilgore

Gov. Jay Nixon recently appointed Michael Kilgore as the newest member of the Board of Police Commissioners, and he was sworn in at today's Board Meeting. He replaces Lisa Pelofsky, who has dedicatedly served on the Board since 2010.

According to a release from the Governor's office, "Kilgore is an attorney with the firm of Humphrey, Farrington & McClain. From 2006 to 2010, he served as a member of the Missouri Ethics Commission, including serving as its chair from 2008 to 2010. Kilgore previously was an assistant attorney general with the Missouri Attorney General's Office and an assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County. He obtained his law degree from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. The Governor has appointed him for a term ending Jan. 6, 2018."

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Police Board to meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at Watkins Cultural Heritage Center.

PRESS RELEASE:

To make the Board of Police Commissioners more accessible to the public, the Board will have its next regular monthly meeting away from Police Headquarters and in the evening.

The Board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, 3700 Blue Parkway. As always, the meeting is open to the public, and all residents are invited to attend. Public comments will be heard at the beginning of the meeting. The meeting also will feature CSTAR (Comprehensive Strategic Team Accountability Review) reports from the Metro Patrol Division and Narcotics and Vice Division. These reports will highlight each of these divisions’ special projects and crime hotspots.

Click to see the full meeting agenda.

Two big decisions from the Board of Police Commissioners today

Two big decisions came out of today’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting that I wanted to tell you about.

The first has been several years in the making: a memorandum of understanding between the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 99 (FOP) and the Board of Police Commissioners. The process had been contentious at times, but we worked through the difficult parts to reach an understanding between rank-and-file officers and the command staff and Board. The MOU recognizes the FOP as the bargaining entity of all sworn personnel at the rank of sergeant or below. This is something that has been an issue for more than a decade, and everyone involved is pleased to have come to this labor management agreement. The Board unanimously approved it. As FOP Lodge 99 President Sergeant Brad Dumit said this morning, “There is nothing now that together we can’t overcome.”

The second big decision was the Board’s resolution regarding the public safety sales tax. The Board voted 4-1 to ask the Kansas City Council to put the renewal of the quarter-cent public safety sales tax on the November ballot. Mayor Mark Funkhouser voted against the resolution because he said he wanted the tax to fund additional police personnel. Police Department staff have recommended against using a sunsetting tax to hire and maintain staff. The resolution approved this morning is to extend the quarter-cent sales tax that is set to expire in 2011 another 15 years. The tax will be used for capital improvements, including the construction of new East and North patrol division stations and a new Crime Lab; remodeling Police Headquarters, a new radio system for all city departments, new helicopters, police vehicles and equipment. The Board decided to make the tax 15 years in length to correspond with the debt service the City already agreed upon for the new city-wide radio system. Staff determined the tax would put enough relief on the City’s general fund to free up money to hire 40 additional officers. The City Council must now approve putting the measure on the November 2010 ballot.

You’ll be hearing more about these things in the future, but I wanted to pass on the major decisions that took place today.

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New commissioners to be sworn in Wednesday

Two new police commissioners will be sworn it at Wednesday's Board of Police Commissioners meeting, Lisa Pelofsky and Angela Wasson-Hunt. They will replace Karl Zobrist and Mark Thompson, whose terms are expiring. Their brief biographies are below. You can click to see the full agenda for the meeting.

Lisa T. Pelofsky: Since 2004, Pelofsky has been the CEO of Pelofsky and Associates, which provides development consultation to local and national non-profit organizations. The Governor has appointed her to a term ending March 7, 2012.

Angela Wasson-Hunt: Wasson-Hunt is the senior vice president for commercial lending at Lawson Bank. Wasson-Hunt is the founding member of the Police Foundation of Kansas City and a trustee for the Kansas City Police Employees Retirement System. The Governor has appointed her to a term ending March 7, 2014.

New members appointed to Board of Police Commissioners

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has appointed, and the Missouri Senate has confirmed, two new members for the Kansas City Missouri Board of Police Commissioners. These members will be sworn it at an upcoming board meeting and will replace Karl Zobrist and Mark Thompson, whose terms have expired. The new members are:

Lisa T. Pelofsky: Since 2004, Pelofsky has been the CEO of Pelofsky and Associates, which provides development consultation to local and national non-profit organizations. Previously, she served as director of development and alumni affairs for The Barstow School, and as director of development for the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. The Governor has appointed her to a term ending March 7, 2012.

Angela Wasson-Hunt: Wasson-Hunt is currently the senior vice president for commercial lending at Lawson Bank, and was director of the Clay County Economic Development Commission from 1998 to 2005. Wasson-Hunt is the founding member of the Police Foundation of Kansas City and a trustee for the Kansas City Police Employees Retirement System. The Governor has appointed her to a term ending March 7, 2014.

Agenda for Thursday's Board of Police Commissioners meeting

The Board's Audit Committee will meet first at 8 a.m. Here's the agenda for that meeting. Below is the agenda for the Business Meeting:

Board of Police Commissioners
Business Session Meeting
Agenda–Thursday, April 8, 2010


9:00 a.m. – 6th Floor Board Room

1. Scheduled Meetings:

Board Meetings:

Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
9:00 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

Audit Committee Meeting:

Thursday, April 8, 2010
8:00 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

2. Approval of Minutes.
a. March 11, 2010 Business Session.

3. Mr. Gary White, City Auditor.
a. General Discussion.

4. Ms. I. Pearl Fain – Office of Community Complaints.
a. General Discussion.

5. Chief James Corwin.
a. Public Safety Sales Tax Renewal.
b. FY 2010-11 Budget Update.
c. General Discussion.

6. Deputy Chief Nick Nichols – Executive Officer.
a. General Discussion.

7. Deputy Chief Cyril Ritter – Patrol Bureau.
a. General Discussion.

8. Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple – Administration Bureau.
a. KCMO/BOPC/REJIS Collaboration Update.
b. General Discussion.

9. Deputy Chief Kevin Masters – Investigations Bureau.
a. General Discussion.

10. Deputy Chief Darryl Forte - Executive Services Bureau.
a. Acceptance of the Kansas City Metropolitan Enforcement Response Task Force Cooperative Award.
b. Storage Area Network (SAN) Request.
c. Phase One: Tiburon CAD/RMS Hardware/Software Replacement.
d. New 2010 Model Year Ford Police Interceptor Vehicles.
e. Adjustments to Special Revenue Accounts for Fiscal Year 2009-10.
f. Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2009-10.
g. South Patrol/SOD CIMO Fees, March 2009-April 2010.
h. Metro Patrol Division CIMO Fees, FY 2008-09 and FY 2009-10.
i. Stream Mitigation Credits, South Patrol/Special Operations.
j. General Discussion.

11. Director Rick Brisbin – Professional Development and Research Bureau.
a. Benedictine Partnership – Regional Academy.
b. General Discussion.

12. Ms. Lisa S. Morris – Office of General Counsel.

13. Future Business Meeting Agenda Items.

14. Ms. Mischa Buford Epps.

15. Chief James Corwin.

16. Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

17. Commissioner Alvin Brooks.

18. Commissioner Patrick McInerney.

19. Commissioner Karl Zobrist.

20. Commissioner Mark C. Thompson

21. Informational Items:
a. Six month Comparison of Crashes at Red Light Camera Intersection.
22. Motion to go into Closed Session.

Alvin Brooks sworn in to Board of Police Commissioners

Today was an historic day as Alvin Brooks was sworn into the Board of Police Commissioners. Mr. Brooks is well known for his anti-crime advocacy in the community and for his tenure on the City Council. What some people may not know is that he also once was a Kansas City police officer. He pointed out at his swearing in today how he has come full circle. During his tenure in the 1950s, black officers were only allowed to patrol certain parts of the city. Now, he is in charge of overseeing the entire Kansas City Police Department, including me. He replaces outgoing Commissioner James Wilson, whose term had expired.

The entire Board of Police Commissioners and me.

Presenting Mr. Brooks with his new police commissioner badge.

Alvin Brooks with retiring commissioner James Wilson, center, and BOPC Vice President Karl Zobrist.

Judge Thomas Newton administering the oath of office to Mr. Brooks.

I look forward to the perspective Commissioner Brooks will bring to the Board and eagerly anticipate working with him in the future.

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Agenda for Board of Police Commissioners meeting Tuesday, including swearing in of Alvin Brooks

Board of Police Commissioners Meeting
Agenda – Tuesday, March 23, 2010


9:00 a.m. – 6th Floor, Board Room

1. Call to Order – Invocation – Pastor Dennis Dewey.

2. Swearing in of new Police Commissioner Alvin L. Brooks.

3. Awards and Commendations.

Certificate of Appreciation
Mr. Greg Bourdon
Mr. Thomas Babb

Certificate of Appreciation
Mr. Chris Jancich

Life-Saving Award
Officer William Hooley
Officer Wesley Lambright

Certificate of Commendation
Officer Kate Mahurin
Officer Kim Shaw

4. Election of Officers.

5. Approval of Minutes.
a. February 23, 2010 Board Meeting.

6. Mr. Gary White, City Auditor.
a. Monthly Status Report.
b. General Discussion.

7. Councilwoman Cathy Jolly - Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.

8. CIMO Report.
Mr. Eric Bosch

9. Ms. I. Pearl Fain – Office of Community Complaints.
a. General Discussion.


10. Chief James D. Corwin.
a. Public Safety Sales Tax Renewal.
b. General Discussion.

11. Deputy Chief Nick Nichols – Executive Officer. a. Monthly Report OCC Investigations.
b. Focus Groups Related to Citizen Satisfaction.
c. General Discussion.

12. Deputy Chief Cyril Ritter – Patrol Bureau.
a. Crime Summary
b. Performance Report.
c. General Discussion.

13. Deputy Chief Kevin Masters – Investigations Bureau.
a. Arrest Summary.
b. Homicide Quarterly.
c. General Discussion.

14. Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple – Administration Bureau.
a. Personnel Summary.
b. General Discussion.

15. Deputy Chief Darryl Forte´ – Executive Services Bureau.
a. Bid No. 2009-11, Ammunition/Munitions Renewal.
b. Bid No. 2010-10, Ford Parts and Accessories.
c. FY10 Traffic Services Grants Reduction.
d. Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2009-10.
e. Budget Summary Report for the Month of February.
f. Jail Consolidation.

16. Director Rick Brisbin – Professional Development and Research Bureau.

a. Project #136, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Risk Management Team.
b. Proposed Procedural Instruction, Red File Targets.
c. Project #44, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Ambulance Calls and Arrests Taken to Hospitals.
d. General Discussion.

17. Mr. Daniel J. Haus, Office of General Counsel.

18. Public Comments*

19. Audit Committee Update.


20. Scheduled Meetings:

Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
9:00 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

Business Session:

Thursday, April 8, 2010
8:30 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

21. Ms. Mischa Buford Epps.

22. Chief James D. Corwin.

23. Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

24. Commissioner Patrick McInerney

25. Commissioner James B. Wilson.

26. Commissioner Karl Zobrist.

27. Commissioner Mark C. Thompson.

28. Motion to go into Closed Session.

29. Informational Items:
a. Crime Comparisons per Division
b. February 2010 News Coverage.
c. Academy Campus Usage Report.
d. KCPD Grant Summary 03/09/2010.
e. Status of Public Safety Sales Tax at the end of February.
f. Public Safety and Neighborhoods Committee Report.


*The Board will hear Public Comments between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. unless other matters are required to be considered at that time. Anyone wanting to speak during the Public Comment portion of the meeting is requested to sign in on the “Public Comment Sign-In Sheet” located at the Board room entrance. The Board will hear from members of the public in the order in which they sign the “Public Comment Sign-In Sheet.”

Gov. Nixon appoints Alvin Brooks to Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has named Alvin Brooks to serve on the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners. He will replace James B. Wilson, whose term has expired. Brooks' appointment is subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate. Read more about Al, a former KCPD police officer, in the governor's press release.

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Highlights of the Feb. 23 Board of Police Commissioners meeting

• City Auditor Gary White presented the results of the 3rd quarter FY 2010 Citizen Satisfaction Survey. A total of 61 percent of residents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of local police protection. Click for full survey results.

• City Councilwoman Cathy Jolly, chair of the Public Safety and Neighborhoods Committee, said she was pleased with the success of the city’s red light cameras program and was in discussions with Union Pacific to install similar cameras at railroad crossings. She said the rail company had approached her about initiating the project. She also explained the success of the city’s Aim 4 Peace program and the ongoing efforts to find funding for it.

• Deputy Chief Cy Ritter said KCPD is down 70 officers in the field at present. However, two classes of 30 recruits each are currently attending the Police Academy. D.C. Ritter also said police had been working to increase their visibility in neighborhoods throughout the city by placing Mounted Patrol and Canine units on patrol.

• Deputy Chief Kevin Masters reported that the Investigations Bureau is devoting a considerable amount of resources to investigating a serial rapist in the Waldo/Brookside area.

• Human Resources Manager Doug Weishar presented about the development of a computer program for an employee early warning/risk management system. The program is called SEERS – or Successful Employee Enhancement and Retention System. The program is being designed for sworn personnel and will track such things as Office of Community Complaints cases against the officer, officer-involved shootings, response to resistance reports, accidental discharge of firearms, assaults on the officer, arrests involving resistance and sick time usage. Weishar said the purpose of the program is to identify individual officers who may be having job performance difficulties and work to correct those issues as quickly as possible.

• Board Vice President Karl Zobrist said he would like to commit to paper some of the standard practices the Kansas City Board uses to maintain the highest standards of conduct to avoid some of the issues facing the Board of Police Commissioners in St. Louis. Some of those practices of the Kansas City board include: rotating office-holders annually, having an audit committee and notifying the rest of the board and public if a member has any conflict of interest in an issue and abstaining from the vote if he/she does.

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Board of Police Commissioners meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow

The KCPD Board of Police Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow in the sixth-floor board room of Police Headquarters, 1125 Locust St. Here's the agenda:

1. Call to Order – Invocation – Pastor John "Modest" Miles.

2. Awards and Commendations.

Certificate of Appreciation
Mr. Robert Hanson

Certificate of Appreciation
Mr. Joe Ford

Meritorious Service Award
Master Patrol Officer Steve Busch

Meritorious Service Award
Officer Corey Carlisle

Meritorious Service Award
Captain Rick Smith

3. Approval of Minutes.
a. December 10, 2009 Business Session.
b. December 22, 2009 Board Meeting.
c. January 8, 2010, Business Session.
d. January 26, 2010, Board Meeting

4. Mr. Gary White, City Auditor.
a. Monthly Status Report.
b. Third Quarter Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results.
c. General Discussion.

5. Councilwoman Cathy Jolly - Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.

6. CIMO Report.
Mr. Eric Bosch

7. Ms. I. Pearl Fain – Office of Community Complaints.
a. General Discussion.

8. Acting Chief Cyril Ritter.
a. Public Safety Sales Tax Renewal.
b. General Discussion.

9. Deputy Chief Nick Nichols – Executive Officer.
a. Monthly Report OCC Investigations.
b. General Discussion.

10. Deputy Chief Cyril Ritter – Patrol Bureau.
a. Crime Summary
b. Performance Report.
c. General Discussion.

11. Deputy Chief Kevin Masters – Investigations Bureau.
a. Arrest Summary.
b. Homicide Quarterly.
c. General Discussion.

12. Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple – Administration Bureau.
a. SEERS Update.
b. Personnel Summary.
c. General Discussion.

13. Deputy Chief Darryl Forte´ – Executive Services Bureau
a. Traffic Services Grant, 2010 STARS MDC Program.
b. Regional Academy Video Production Studio.
c. Sole Source Purchase of C20C Helicopter Engine.
d. Bank Bid Renewal.
e. Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2009-10.
f. Budget Summary Report for Month of January.
g. Jail Consolidation.

14. Director Rick Brisbin – Professional Development and Research Bureau.
a. Project #350, Death Investigations.
b. Proposed Personnel Policy, C.R.I.T.I.C.A.L. Values.
c. Revision of Personnel Policy, Legal Restrictions Affecting Performance of Duty.
d. Proposed Procedural Instruction, DRAGNET Reports.
e. Proposed Procedural Instruction, Tiburon Computer System ARS/RMS.
f. General Discussion.

15. Ms. Lisa S. Morris, Office of General Counsel.
a. Private Officer License Appeal, Christopher Miller.

16. Public Comments (between 10:30 and 11 a.m.)

17. Scheduled Meetings:

Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
9:00 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

Business Session:

Thursday, March 11, 2010
9:00 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

Thursday, April 8, 2010
8:30 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

18. Ms. Mischa Buford Epps.

19. Acting Chief Cyril Ritter.

20. Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

21. Commissioner Patrick McInerney

22. Commissioner James B. Wilson.

23. Commissioner Karl Zobrist.

24. Commissioner Mark C. Thompson.

25. Motion to go into Closed Session.

25. Informational Items:
a. Academy Campus Usage Report, January 2010.
b. Funding Gap Elimination Implementation Timeline.
c. KCPD Grant Summary 02/11/10.
d. Project #44, Revision of Procedural Instruction 98-7, Ambulance Calls and Arrests Taken to Hospitals.
e. Proposed Procedural Instruction, Red File Targets.

Gaining insight from former mayors, police commissioners and chiefs

Today, a group of people who have been very important to the Kansas City Missouri Police Department came together to learn about the Department’s current initiatives and issues and give their input. This group included current and former members of the Board of Police Commissioners (including former mayors) and former Chiefs of Police. It was a treat to visit with everyone from the first female police commissioner – Faye Werner, who served from 1973 to 1976 – to former mayors Charles Wheeler and Richard Berkley.

Our command staff tries to have a luncheon like this at least once a year because these people still have a strong stake in Kansas City and its police department. They have their fingers on the pulse of the community and are a valuable source of input for us. Some of our topics of conversation included:

• The potential renewal of the quarter-cent Public Safety Sales Tax. Originally approved by voters in 2002, the tax is set to expire next year. We’re trying to get the renewal of the tax on the August 2010 ballot. By the time the current tax sunsets, it will have paid for three new patrol division stations (including the opening of the city’s sixth patrol division – Shoal Creek), the Kansas City Regional Police Academy, a Special Operations Division and debt service for a new radio system, among other things.

• The status of our recent and current capital projects, like the Academy and the new Metro Patrol Division (set to open around May of this year) and the new South Patrol/Special Operations Division complex (which is now in the design phase).

• The budget and how it has impacted our staffing levels and operations.

• Crime rates and trends throughout the city.

• Trends in professional law enforcement.

It was an informative time for everyone involved and a great opportunity to draw on the vast knowledge and experience these past and present civil servants have to offer. Below are the names of everyone who attended, who are pictured above:

Front row – left to right:
Current BOPC Secretary/Attorney Mischa Buford Epps (2009 to present)
First Lady Commissioner Faye Werner (1973-1976)
Former Commissioner Stacey Daniels-Young (1995-2002)
Former Commissioner Angela Wasson-Hunt (2003-2005)

Second row – left to right:
Former Mayor Richard Berkley (1979-1990)
Former Commissioner Terry Brady (2005-2009)
Current Board President Mark Thompson (2006-present)
Former Mayor Charles Wheeler (1973-1978)
Former Chief Floyd Bartch (1995-1999)

Third row – left to right:
Former Chief Richard Easley (1999-2004)
Former Secretary/Attorney Albert Riederer (1994-1996)
Former Commissioner Dennis Eckold (1998-2002)
Former Chief Larry Joiner (1984-1990)
Former Commissioner Bailus Tate (1987-1994)
Former Commissioner John Dillingham (1991-1994)
Current Board Vice-President Karl Zobrist (2000-present)
Former Commissioner’s Counsel W.H. Bates (1961-1965)
Current Commissioner Patrick McInerney (2009-present)
Former Commissioner Jeffrey Simon (1996-1999)
Current Chief James Corwin (2004-present)

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Highlights from yesterday's Board of Police Commissioners meeting

Highlights of the Jan. 26, 2010, Board of Police Commissioners Meeting:

• Rick Easley, president of the board of the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, presented the Kansas City Crimestoppers 2009 year-end report. Crimestoppers paid out $58,282 in rewards last year. Some of that went to tipsters who helped solve 24 homicide cases, 51 robberies, 16 aggravated assaults and hundreds of other cases ranging from drugs to theft.

• Ken Henton, principal architect at Hoefer Wysocki, presented designs for the new South Patrol Division/Special Operations Division and multipurpose building to be constructed at Bannister Road and Marion Park Drive. The layout of the whole 25-acre site is designed to look like a police badge. The South Patrol and Special Operations divisions will be combined into one three-story building that will be separated with a large atrium in the middle and comprise about 54,000 square feet. The multipurpose building will feature a full-size gym, workout facilities and house the Bomb and Arson, Canine and Helicopter units and will be about 26,000 square feet. Mr. Henton estimated that construction on the two buildings would be complete by mid-2012. Both buildings will receive a Silver LEED rating for their environmental friendliness.

• Deputy Chief Cy Ritter said he was pleased to report that traffic deaths so far in 2010 are down substantially compared to 2009. There have been two traffic fatalities to date in 2010, and there were 11 at this time last year.

• D.C. Ritter also reported on the impact that last month’s bad weather had on response times and crime. He compared Dec. 20, 2009, through Jan. 10, 2010, to the same period in late 2008 and early 2009. The average temperature during those times this year was 19 degrees, compared to 31 the previous year. There was an average of 5 inches of snow on the ground during those dates this year compared to 0.3 inches the previous year. Because of this, police response times increased by 1 minute and 17 seconds. Calls for service were up by 29 percent – or 892 calls – over last year’s Dec. 20 – Jan. 10. However, crime fell by an average of 33.3 percent for those dates. And despite all the hardship, police officers used 30 percent less sick time this year than they did the year before, and injuries were down 58 percent.

• Major Rosilyn Allen reported that despite assertions in the news media regarding falling accident rates at intersections with red light cameras, police have not yet calculated the impact those cameras are having at the majority of the intersections. They do know that from August to December 2009, violations dropped by 64 percent as drivers got used to the new cameras. Major Allen said police have determined there were seven fewer accidents at the intersection of 39th Street and Southwest Trafficway from March to August 2009 compared to the same time period in 2008. She said police are working to further analyze possible accident reduction at other red light camera intersections.

• Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple reported that a new Police Academy class with 30 recruits began on Monday. Another class is set to graduate in April.

• The Board approved the renewal of the department’s health insurance plans with Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas City at the cost of $18.24 million. By adding the department’s dental insurance to Blue Cross Blue Shield, the department was able to negotiate only a 2.5 percent increase in out-of-pocket health insurance for employees.

Board of Police Commissioners meeting tomorrow

The Board of Police Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow in the sixth-floor Board Room of Police Headquarters, 1125 Locust St. Here's a link to the agenda. Public comments will be taken some time between 10:30 and 11 a.m.

Highlights from yesterday's Board of Police Commissioners meeting

Highlights of the Dec. 22, 2009, Board of Police Commissioners Meeting:

• Capt. Rich Lockhart presented the department’s new web site, which will go live Jan. 4, 2010.

• Deputy Chief Cy Ritter reported that there have been 64 traffic fatalities in Kansas City this year compared to 58 at this date in 2008. He noted two disturbing trends:
- The number of passengers in vehicles killed this year is up 80 percent from last year.
- Motorcycle fatalities have increased 63 percent over 2008.

• As of Monday, Dec. 21, D.C. Ritter said police had eliminated the backlog of red light camera violations waiting to be reviewed. At one time, thousands were in queue. Four officers were pulled out of the Traffic Enforcement Unit to review the violations full time. Now that they’re caught up, residents who got violations from the cameras should receive their tickets in the mail much more quickly.

• After nearly two years of work to report crime statistics more accurately, Major Christine Laughlin announced that the State of Missouri has certified KCPD as NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System) Compliant. Kansas City is the first large city in Missouri to achieve this certification. The State has reviewed the department’s last three months of data in the new system and declared it 100 percent accurate.

• Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple explained the work of a recent committee to reassign civilians to fill critical positions like 911 calltakers, report input control and station desk clerks left vacant by a hiring freeze. She said no one took a pay cut or lost their job, but several civilians were transferred, and others will have to take on the duties of two jobs.

• Deputy Chief Darryl Forte said that the department continues to negotiate with the City and Jackson County regarding a regional jail. He said the space in which the entities would like KCPD to move their detention operations lacks the square footage for four interrogation rooms. He said that was a requirement that is not negotiable for the department. KCPD also has yet to be quoted a price on leasing the space, he said. D.C. Forte said the space would only be a temporary location as part of a five-year plan to develop a new, regional jail, and commissioners questioned why the department would put in so much work and money to move detention operations to a short-term location. Chief James Corwin said if detention moves out of Police Headquarters, they need to go to a place that is designed to handle the scope of the operation. The KCPD Detention Unit books and processes 40,000 inmates annually.

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Agenda for tomorrow's Board of Police Commissioners Meeting

Board of Police Commissioners Meeting
Agenda – Tuesday, December 22, 2009
9:00 a.m. – 6th Floor, Board Room


1. Call to Order – Invocation – Pastor Keith Ratcliffe.

2. Awards and Commendations.

Crisis Intervention Team Award
Captain Joseph Chapman

Life-Saving Awards
Officer Sean Clarke
Officer Michael Schneider
Officer Jacob Shroyer
Officer Nicole Wright

Life-Saving Award
Officer Mark McKenney

Meritorious Service Award
Officer Dennis Coates

Meritorious Service Award
Communications Specialist Buddy Hockett

Medals of Valor
Officer Curtis Coppinger
Officer Detlef Merrill

3. Legislative Update.
Mr. Andy Arnold
Mr. Woody Cozad
Mr. Jewell Patek
Mr. Ward Cook

4. Approval of Minutes.
a. November 10, 2009 Business Session.
b. November 24, Board Meeting.

5. Mr. Gary White, City Auditor.
a. Monthly Status Report.
b. General Discussion.

6. Councilwoman Cathy Jolly - Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.

7. CIMO Report.
Mr. Eric Bosch

8. Ms. I. Pearl Fain – Office of Community Complaints.
a. General Discussion.

9. Chief James Corwin .
a. Public Safety Sales Tax Renewal.
b. General Discussion.

10. Deputy Chief Nick Nichols – Executive Officer.
a. Monthly Report OCC Investigations.
b. General Discussion.

11. Deputy Chief Cyril Ritter – Patrol Bureau.
a. Crime Summary
b. Performance Report.
c. General Discussion.

12. Deputy Chief Kevin Masters – Investigations Bureau.
a. Arrest Summary.
b. General Discussion.

13. Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple – Administration Bureau
a. Request for Proposal No. 2010-5, Workers’ Compensation and Psychological Services.
b. Personnel Summary.
c. Right Sizing Committee Report.
d. General Discussion.

14. Deputy Chief Darryl Forte´ – Executive Services Bureau
a. Modification of the 2009 MCSAP Grant (MO9-KC-01-Z).
b. Bid No. 2010-3, New 2009 or 2010 Model Year DUI Blood Alcohol Test Vehicle.
c. Metro Patrol Division Office Furniture Purchase.
d. Adjustments to Special Revenue Accounts for Fiscal Year 2009-10.
e. Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2009-10.
f. Budget Summary Report for the Month of November.
g. Crime Lab Advanced Processing Techniques Fee.
h. Jail Consolidation.

15. Director Rick Brisbin – Professional Development and Research Bureau.
a. Project #367, Proposed Procedural Instruction, Operational Plans-Performance Measurement System.
b. Project #223, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Execution of Search Warrants. c. Project #314, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Detaining and Questioning Persons, Arrest, Search and Seizure.
d. Project #31, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Police Radio Communications.
e. Recommendation Regarding Academy Fees.
f. General Discussion.

16. Ms. Lisa S. Morris, Office of General Counsel.
a. Considerations Related to Possible Retirement Age Change.

17. Public Comments*

18. Scheduled Meetings:

Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
9:00 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

Business Session:

Friday, January 8, 2010
8:30 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

19. Ms. Mischa Buford Epps.

20. Chief James Corwin.

21. Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

22. Commissioner Patrick McInerney

23. Commissioner James B. Wilson.

24. Commissioner Karl Zobrist.

25. Commissioner Mark C. Thompson.

26. Motion to go into Closed Session.


27. Informational Items:
a. Project #133, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Uniform and Personal Appearance Regulations.
b. Project #21, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Computer Security.
c. Project #136, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Risk Management Team.
d. Project #319, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Department Property Inventory and Control.
e. Funding Gap Elimination Implementation Timeline.
f. Recovery Act Grant Summary.
g. Status of Public Safety Sales Tax at the end of November.
h. KCPD Grant Summary Sheet 12/08/09.
i. Donated Property Summary Report.


*The Board will hear Public Comments between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. unless other matters are required to be considered at that time. Anyone wanting to speak during the Public Comment portion of the meeting is requested to sign in on the “Public Comment Sign-In Sheet” located at the Board room entrance. The Board will hear from members of the public in the order in which they sign the “Public Comment Sign-In Sheet.”

Agenda for Thursday's Board of Police Commissioners meeting

A few things to note here:
First, the meetings will take place at the Police Academy, not at Police Headquarters. Second, an Audit Committee meeting will precede the regular business meeting. And third, the business meeting is more of a planning/strategizing session than a policy-setting one. The meetings are, as always, open to the public.

Kansas City, Missouri Board of Police Commissioners
Audit Committee Agenda

Date and Time: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 8 am
Location: Training Division, 6885 N.E. Pleasant Valley Rd., KCMO

1. Gary White, City Auditor

2. Chief Corwin

3. Deputy Chief Nichols

4. Thomas Gee, Manager, Internal Audit Unit.

a. Completed audits for presentation and release:
i. Preventable Vehicular Audit, 09-01
ii. Grant Overtime Post Audit, 09-05
b. Audits in progress (informational):
i. Records Unit Audit, 08-11
ii. Supply Unit Inventory Audit, 08-07
iii. Vehicle Pursuit Process Audit, 09-03
iv. Communications Support Unit Post Audit, 09-06
c. Audits assigned but not yet started (informational):
i. OGC Post Audit, 08-09
ii. Use of Force Information Usage Audit, 09-02
iii. Buy Money Post Audit, 09-04

5. Comments from Chief Corwin

6. Comments from Deputy Chief Nichols

7. Comments from Commissioner McInerney.

8. Comments from Commissioner Zobrist.

Board of Police Commissioners Business Session Meeting Agenda

Thursday, December 10, 2009
8:30 a.m. – Regional Police Academy

1. Scheduled Meetings:

Board Meetings:

Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2009
9:00 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

Business Session:

Friday, January 8, 2009
8:30 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

2. Approval of Minutes.
a. October 8, 2009 Business Session.
b. October 27, 2009 Board Meeting.

3. Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple – Administration Bureau.
a. Request for Proposal, Occupational Health Services.
b. General Discussion.

4. Strategic Planning Session.
a. Performance.
b. Communications.
c. Community Satisfaction/Involvement.
d. Internal Elements.
e. Legislative Issues.

5. Board Goals.
a. Commissioner Orientation Process.
b. Commissioner Continuing Education.
c. Effective Governance.

6. Motion to go into Closed Session.

Highlights of yesterday's Board of Police Commissioners meeting

Highlights of the November 24 Board of Police Commissioners Meeting:

• Eric Bosch, director of the Capital Improvements Management Office, presented photos of the ongoing construction at the new Metro Patrol Division and said the anticipated opening date would probably be in late May or early June 2010. He also presented drawings of buildings planned for the new South Patrol and Special Operations divisions.

• City Councilman John Sharp, vice chair of the Council’s Public Safety and Neighborhoods Committee, asked the department to consider joining the city’s self insurance plan.

He also asked Chief Corwin to consider committing police department members to the city’s new committee to review dress code issues and compliance at the Power and Light District, as opposed to participating in the committee sponsored by Power and Light owner Cordish, which would be tasked with the same thing. Chief Corwin said he had spoken with Cordish President Zed Smith and thought it would be inappropriate for police to enforce corporate policies on either committee. He said the department is tasked with enforcing only ordinances, statutes and laws, not private policies. If police had to arrest Power and Light employees for violating city dress code ordinances, they could face a conflict of interest if police also served on the committee that oversaw the dress code. Two Commissioners also expressed concern about separation of powers and conflicts of interest. Chief Corwin said that while he has not yet made his decision, he is leaning toward not having police participate on either the City’s or Cordish’s dress code committee.


• Deputy Chief Kevin Masters reported that the Cold Case Squad is re-investigating the death of Charles McNeil, which was originally ruled a suicide. McNeil’s family requested a new investigation at the October Board of Police Commissioners meeting.

• Chief Corwin reported that from 2005 to present, total Part 1 crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, stealing, auto theft and arson) in Kansas City have fallen 20 percent.

• Deputy Chief Cy Ritter said the department and public are beginning to feel the effects of fewer officers on the street due to budget cuts. From July to September 2009, median response times have risen from 5.85 minutes to 6.19 minutes, despite July having a higher number of calls for service than September. D.C. Ritter cited the following reasons why:
- Because of staffing shortages in the Headquarters Detention Unit, there are no longer civilian detention officers at any of the six patrol divisions. Police officers must now serve as detention officers.
- Only three of the six stations’ detention units are open at any one time, causing police to have to drive further and spend more time out of service to drop off arrests.
- Just as the hiring freeze has not allowed the department to hire any more civilian detention officers, it has prevented the hiring of any desk clerks for the stations. Several of those positions are now vacant and must be filled by officers who would normally be on the streets.

Chief Corwin said a recent “Right-Sizing Committee” had just surveyed and reviewed the job duties of all the department’s civilian employees to determine where the most critical needs were. When the recommendations are released, some civilian employees will be transferred to different jobs to fill the most critical spots, and others will take on the duties of two positions. Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple said no one will lose their job or take a pay cut through this initiative.

• D.C. Ritter said the National Catholic Youth Conference – which brought 22,000 high school students and 4,000 adults to downtown Kansas City last weekend – went off without any major incident. He said that was largely the result of 18 months of planning for the event by Captain Rick Smith. Many of the attendees praised and thanked police for their work.

• Major Patty Higgins and Captain James Connelly presented all the accomplishments of the Blue Project, which began in 2006 with an outside audit of the department’s practices. That audit had more than 230 recommendations, and they were broken up into eight task forces composed of more than 200 department members for completion. Those task forces have now finished their work, and the department has met its goals of increasing satisfaction scores on the City’s Citizen Satisfaction Survey.

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Agenda for tomorrow's Board of Police Commissioners meeting

Board of Police Commissioners Meeting
Agenda – Tuesday, November 24, 2009

9:00 a.m. – 6th Floor, Board Room

1. Call to Order – Invocation – Rabbi Herbert Mandl.

2. Awards and Commendations.

Special Unit Citation
North Patrol Division/North Patrol Property Crimes Section

Special Unit Citation
Crime Free Multi-Housing Officers

Life-Saving Award
Officer Shawn Davis
Officer Rita Olson-Stawicki

Distinguished Service Medal
Officer Travis Stuteville

Medals of Valor
Officer Travis Hennegin
Officer Michael Merino
Officer Brandon Pegg

3. Legislative Update.
Mr. Andy Arnold
Mr. Woody Cozad
Mr. Jewell Patek
Mr. Ward Cook

4. Mr. Gary White, City Auditor.
a. Monthly Status Report.
b. General Discussion.

5. Councilwoman Cathy Jolly - Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods.

6. CIMO Report.
Mr. Eric Bosch

7. Ms. I. Pearl Fain – Office of Community Complaints.
a. General Discussion.

8. Chief James Corwin .
a. Public Safety Sales Tax Renewal.
b. General Discussion.

9. Deputy Chief Nick Nichols – Executive Officer.
a. Monthly Report OCC Investigations.
b. General Discussion.

10. Deputy Chief Cyril Ritter – Patrol Bureau.
a. Crime Summary
b. Performance Report.
c. General Discussion.

11. Deputy Chief Kevin Masters – Investigations Bureau.
a. Arrest Summary.
b. General Discussion.

12. Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple – Administration Bureau.
a. Personnel Summary.
b. General Discussion.

13. Deputy Chief Darryl Forte´ – Executive Services Bureau.
a. Police Package Motorcycles, Bid No. 2010-7.
b. Renewal of Audit Services, Bid No. 2008-11.
c. Cooperative Procurement Office Supply Contract Renewal.
d. Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2009-10.
e. Adjustments to Special Revenue Accounts for Fiscal Year 2009-10.
f. New South Patrol 1% for Art Project.
g. Budget Summary Report for October.
h. Jail Consolidation.

14. Director Rick Brisbin – Professional Development and Research Bureau.
a. Project #380, Revision of Procedural Instruction 05-01, Use of Department and Private Vehicles.
b. Blueprint Project Presentation.
c. General Discussion.

15. Ms. Lisa S. Morris, Office of General Counsel.

16. Public Comments*


17. Scheduled Meetings:

Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
9:00 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

Business Session:

Thursday, December 10, 2009
Friday, January 8, 2010
8:30 a.m., 6th Floor, Board Room

18. Ms. Mischa Buford Epps.

19. Chief James Corwin.

20. Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

21. Commissioner Patrick McInerney

22. Commissioner James B. Wilson.

23. Commissioner Karl Zobrist.

24. Commissioner Mark C. Thompson.

25. Motion to go into Closed Session.

26. Informational Items:
a. Revision of Procedural Instructions: Project #26, Offense Reporting; Project #132, Report Control; Project #191, Field Interview Form and Registration of Convicted Sex Offenders.
b. Project #367, Proposed Procedural Instruction, Operational Plans/Performance Measuring System.
c. Project #314, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Detaining and Questioning Persons, Arrest, Search and Seizure.
d. Project #223, Revision of Procedural Instruction, Execution of Search Warrants. e. IROBOT Equipment Received from MARC.
f. ASCLD/LAB® Inspection Report.
g. October 2009 News Coverage.
h. Funding Gap Elimination Implementation Timeline.
i. Recovery Act Grant Summary.
j. Status of Public Safety Sales Tax at the end of October.
k. KCPD Grant Summary 11/10/09.
l. Donated Property Summary Report.
m. Press Release 11/16/09: Kansas City Live! Announces a Dress Code Oversight Board.
n. Women’s Personal Safety Seminar.
o. Academy Campus Actual Usage for October 2009.


*The Board will hear Public Comments between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. unless other matters are required to be considered at that time. Anyone wanting to speak during the Public Comment portion of the meeting is requested to sign in on the “Public Comment Sign-In Sheet” located at the Board room entrance. The Board will hear from members of the public in the order in which they sign the “Public Comment Sign-In Sheet.”

Highlights of today's Board of Police Commissioners Meeting

Highlights of the Oct. 27, 2009, Kansas City Missouri Board of Police Commissioners Meeting

* MGT of America presented the results a study commissioned by the Board to review the Department’s mandatory retirement policy. This policy requires law enforcement officers to retire after 30 years of service and has been in place since 1956. MGT consultants said in police departments nationwide, mandatory retirement ages are becoming a thing of the past. They said chronological age is a poor predictor of physical capabilities. Commissioners had expressed concern that extending the retirement age might lead to stagnation in the ranks and lower morale. MGT surveyed KCPD’s approximately 1,400 law enforcement members and received about 1,100 responses. They concluded “a majority were at least indifferent to the idea of extending the retirement age, if not open to changes in the retirement policy, provided there is also a possibility of a corresponding increase in retirement benefits.” The study also concluded that members’ concerns about the promotional process could be tempered by requiring set years of service before an officer could become a sergeant or captain. MGT consultants recommended that KCPD adopt a comprehensive wellness program and possibly implement physical testing. The commissioners said the study gave them several options to consider, which they will continue to do over the next several months. They said they also will consider the effect of officers working longer on the fiscal health of the law enforcement retirement system.

* Chief James Corwin said he will be working to put together a committee that will be tasked with getting the Public Safety Sales Tax renewal on the April 2010 ballot. The committee would include City Council members and members of the Board of Police Commissioners. The current sales tax, which was approved by voters in 2002, is set to sunset in June 2011. It funds capital improvements for the police department.

* Chief Corwin also discussed KCPD providing security for the Municipal Court. He said officers used to be called to every court appearance, even though many cases were simply continued, and the officers could have been putting their time to better use. Now, they only appear in municipal court when testimony will take place in a case. The end result was that far fewer officers were in the municipal court at any given time, which caused the presiding judge to be concerned about court security. A private security company provides security at the entrances, but no armed guards are present in the court rooms. The U.S. Marshal’s Office conducted a study and found that to adequately provide security at the court, the cost would be $500,000 annually. Chief Corwin said he is waiting on a final operational plan, but preliminarily, a traffic squad will be taken off the street to provide court security as well as supplement the Downtown Footbeat officers. Commissioner Patrick McInerney said he was concerned about trained traffic officers being used for court security purposes and was worried police might be called upon to provide security at other city facilities. Mayor Mark Funkhouser and Chief Corwin said they would try to seek resources to both provide security and keep officers on the street.

* During public comments, the family of Charles McNeil, who was found dead in a car in June 2008, asked police to reopen their loved one’s case. The death had been ruled a suicide by a former medical examiner, but the family asked police to investigate it as a homicide. Board Vice President Karl Zobrist asked Chief Corwin to designate someone to look into the investigation and keep the board and family abreast of its progress.

* Deputy Chief Cy Ritter said that despite the police force being down by 91 officers (48 vacancies and 43 who are sick, injured or on military leave), police continued to meet response-time goals in September with a median response time of 6.19 minutes. He said geographically large, suburban, patrol divisions like Shoal Creek Patrol are particularly down officers, and thus have higher response times. Shoal Creek’s median response time in September was 8.44 minutes.

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