Record Low Kansas City Police Numbers Spark Growing Concern

The debate over resources for community policing continues confront Kansas City.

For context, here's a money line we reported last week . . . 

"We hit 1200 sworn members, the first time in almost 25 years we have had so few law enforcement in this city. In 2007 we had about 1460 sworn so we are in a complete free fall. With no new academy classes in almost two years we will surely fall to a 30 year low by January 1st. It will take a decade to fix this mess."

"Just how do we recruit to this department when we haven’t had a pay raise in three years?"

Like it or not, as with all things, the debate comes down to money. 

However . . . Our friends over at KC Mag take a more thoughtful perspective. 

Check analysis from their recent report . . .

Brandon Davis, a professor at the University of Kansas who studies community contact with the justice system, says Kansas City has three factors that could create a shortage: increases in homicides, scrutiny and a decrease in funding.

“All these things have come together and it’s like a perfect storm,” Davis says. “You’re having police departments that are taxed with more murders and facing a lot of backlash from the protesters and also facing the wrath of city councils and states trying to be more progressive on policing, so they are cutting budgets.”

However . . . 

Yet again the topic of cash continues to arise. 

A quick TKC reminder . . . 

HAS ANYBODY ASKED MAYOR Q ABOUT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE BUDGETING DEETS FOR THAT 42 MILLION HE WANTS TO DEFUND REALLOCATE FROM KCPD?!?!

Reality check . . .

For all of the talk about "transparency" this political debate treats voters like pawns in a grudge match betwixt local political factions as they ruthlessly slap fight over money & power.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

Will KC face a shortage of street cops? Here's what an expert thinks

Across the country, police departments are struggling to retain and hire officers. Of almost two hundred police departments surveyed nationwide by the Police Executive Research Forum in May of 2021, there was a forty-five percent increase in the retirement rate

Developing . . .