7 KC Cops Suspended KCPD CHECKING TO how Cases with Endangered Kids Were Handled January 28, 2016

(AP) – The Kansas City Police Department announced Thursday that two sergeants and seven detectives in its Crimes Against Children section have been suspended with pay while it investigates claims that some cases haven’t been addressed in a timely manner.
The department said it launched an internal probe after Chief Darryl Forte became aware of issues in October.
“It is important that we do all that we can for all victims, especially those who cannot speak for themselves,” Forte told The Kansas City Star.
The department says it is concerned that some serious cases with vulnerable victims may not have been handled appropriately. Police spokeswoman Kari Thompson declined to elaborate further on what prompted the investigation.

9 KC cops Suspended in Investigation on Handling Endangered Children January 28, 2016

(AP) – The Kansas City Police Department announced Thursday that two sergeants and seven detectives in its Crimes Against Children section have been suspended with pay while it investigates claims that some cases haven’t been addressed in a timely manner.
The department said it launched an internal probe after Chief Darryl Forte became aware of issues in October.
“It is important that we do all that we can for all victims, especially those who cannot speak for themselves,” Forte told The Kansas City Star.
The department says it is concerned that some serious cases with vulnerable victims may not have been handled appropriately. Police spokeswoman Kari Thompson declined to elaborate further on what prompted the investigation

Forte Predicts Unpopular Decisions Coming Soon December 5, 2014

Kansas City police Chief Darryl Forte says he’s about to make some unpopular decisions.
Forte announced that Thursday when accepting the ‘Difference Maker ‘ award from the Kansas City Chapter of the Urban League.
“I’m going to make some decisions that some people won’t understand”, Forte said. He did not elaborate.
He did say he brought it up to a room full of Kansas City opinion makers because he may need their support.
“You get a room full of people, they can make a huge difference. And I’m going to use that momentum to do something on the police department,” the chief said.
Forte went on to say the Kansas City police department only has one African American captain. Captains earn the rank through a process and their performance on a test, according to the chief.
Forte says he wants to be able to appoint capitian because that’s the first line of the police department management
He believes he should have the right to pick his management team.

KC Star: KCPD Writing More Tickets May 27, 2014

(AP) – Drivers in Kansas City beware. Police are warning that officers are increasing traffic enforcement, and the number of tickets has increased dramatically.
The Kansas City Star reports officers wrote more than 6,000 speeding tickets in April – more than double the number in April of last year. Tickets for all traffic violations increased nearly 50 percent in April when compared to last April.
Those numbers don’t count tickets written by a new traffic enforcement squad that began operating May 19.
City officials say officers have written a low number of traffic tickets for years, and they have considered several ways to improve traffic safety.
Others note that the increase comes after courts forced the city to end its red-light camera program, which generated more than 31,000 tickets annually

City Hall Hunts for a Deal on Teen Curfews May 1, 2013

The outlines of a deal on a year-round Kansas City Missouri curfew for teens under 18 may be emerging.
Two key players, curfew sponsor Jan Marcson, and a key opponent, Public Safety Committee Chairman John Sharp met with Kansas City Police recently to discuss the issue.
Marcason’s idea of a year-round, 9pm curfew for Kansas City teens under 18 has run into resistance.
The issue has come to the forefront again because of early spring crowds of teens gathering in the Country Club Plaza.
Marcason says the police tell her the curfew works. She says the police do not spend as much manpower and resources on curfew issues after the first week or two they’re in effect.
“The first two weeks,” said Marcason, is the test, “when they’re trying to get teenagers familiar with the time-table.”
Sharp opposes the 9pm curfew. He says it’s too early. He thinks it would prohibit an older teen from even going to a 7pm movie in many cases.
He also says the proposal has a problem because it holds parents of 17 year olds liable for their behavior.
“But 17 year olds are considered adults, for criminal purposes in Missouri. So we ought to change that.”
Sharp says the city already has several curfews, depending on the season and the age of the teen is aimed at.
He says the Police Dept. keeps a flow chart to track them all. He figures it would be just as hard for a teen to track them, too.
If there is one curfew, he thinks it should be consistent. He also thinks curfews should be “a tiny part”, of how the city helps keep teenagers safe.
Sharp and Marcason agree that it as handful of teens that start and cause the trouble on the Plaza, and other parts of town.
Another part of a potential compromise could be pushing the curfew time back.
“We don’t want it to go too late, maybe from 9 to 9:30. Maybe 10pm. A lot of the problems are 10 o’clock and later,” said Marcason.
The curfew issue is scheduled to go back to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee in mid May.