KCMO mayor seeks to put local control of KCPD on Nov. 3 ballot

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas on Thursday said he would seek to place a referendum on the ballot this year asking voters if they support local control of the city's police department.

ERROR IS CAUSING.BUT FIRST TONIGHT-LOCAL CONTROL OF THEKANSAS CITY POLICEDEPARTMENT.WITH PROTESTS CALLINGFOR IT --TODAY THE CITY MADE AMAJOR MOVE TO MAKE ITHAPPEN.KANSAS CITY IS THE ONLYCITY OF ITS SIZE IN THECOUNTRY - THAT IS UNDERSTATE CONTROL.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER SARAH PLAKESHOWS US WHATHAPPENED TODAY -- ANDWHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.Coming up this November,Kansas City voters coulddecided whether to bring localcontrol of the policedepartment back to the city.But the process doesn't stopthere.I thought it was time and itwas important for us to askkansas city, to ask if this is alegislative priority..The city council will decidewhether to approve aNovember ballot question thatwill ask voters whether the citycouncil and mayor can makedecisions about the KansasCity police department.Right now the Board of PoliceCommissioners controls theKCPD, which is made up ofthe mayor and four peopleappointed by the Governor.I dont necessarily think it'llbea black / white issue, don'tthink it'll be a north / southissue.

I hear from peoplethroughout our city each daywho say they see needs formore accountability.Local control of the PD is on alist of demands for policereforms..

That are now quicklybeing addressed one by one.But this could take a while..

Ifvoters say 'yes' in November..the Missouri legislature willhave to approve it next year..If they don't - then thequestion would have to makeit onto a statewide ballot,which requires a petition.When I hear local control thatopens the door for a lot ofother reform.

The biggestthing I have is an independentpolice review board to handlecomplaints.41 Action News reached outto KCPD for comment..

Theypointed us to a November2019 blog post..

Chief RickSmith says he thinks the pushfor local control is a politicalmove..

He says our currentmodel has served the city for80 years..

And the memberson the police board are alllocal.People who have protestedpolice brutality say they feelhopeful..We're taking a huge step at itright now, but we wanteveryone to be a part