Insiders Dispute Kansas City Mayor Q FAKE Police Pay Hike Pledge

The centerpiece of the 2024 "State Of The City" speech by Mayor Quinton Lucas was a pledge to increase salaries for Kansas City Police in the aftermath of the deadliest year for homicides in local history. However, insiders familiar with the process remind us that, under the current configuration of the KCPD, the mayor has absolutely no power to implement this plan. Those who listened carefully understand the Mayor was only highlighting a "proposal" sent to policy makers.

Thankfully, insiders make it plain for our www.TonysKansasCity.com blog community:

THE MAYOR HAS NO POWER TO DELIVER ON HIS POLICE PAY HIKE PROMISE!!! HE'S RELYING ON WORD PLAY & VOTER APATHY!!!

Again, insiders know how this works and we were waiting for other media outlets to point out the duplicity but so far the coverage hasn't offered any detail or specifics on the process. 

For instance . . .

Check headlines on the topic . . . 

Fox 4: Mayor proposes 30% starting salary increase for Kansas City police officers

KSHB41: Crime prevention, housing, new opportunities -- KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas delivers 5th State of the City address

Kansas City Star: Lucas proposes pay raises for all Kansas City police officers. Here are the details

Sadly, there are few details about how this process REALLY WORKS. 

Thankfully, trusted insiders tell us . . . 

"I've never seen something so duplicitous. He's literally making promises for other people and media is reporting his words without any questions. The FACT IS THAT THE MAYOR HAS NO DIRECT AUTHORITY OVER KCPD SALARIES . His word "proposal" is nothing more than a suggestion." 

With this knowledge . . . Listening to the Mayor's words takes on new meaning.

This statement from Mayor Q tacitly admits the decision isn't up to him. 

"Our budget proposes the most aggressive salary increase for police in more than a generation. And we hope and expect that the Board Of Police Commissioners will ensure that money goes only to salaries not contracts."

Again, KICK-ASS KANSAS CITY INSIDERS have been generous to us and taken us through the process.

The Mayor along with the Kansas City Police Board typically conduct a salary study and work with lobbyists & Missouri state legislators to propose a bill increasing salaries. 

Insiders share this fun fact . . .

AGAIN, THE MAYOR DOESN'T DETERMINE KANSAS CITY POLICE SALARIES, THE MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES INCREASES AND THEN SENDS LEGISLATION TO THE GOVERNOR!!!

Proof of concept . . . 

"Last year the Missouri General Assembly approved a bill that would give Kansas City more control over how much it pays its police chief and officers. The bill, which passed 151-3, is joint legislation filed by state Rep. Mark Sharp, a Kansas City Democrat, and state Rep. Chris Brown, a Kansas City Republican. It would remove the maximum salary cap for the Kansas City police chief and its officers in an attempt to attract and retain talent."

Actually . . . According to this action there's more cash in there for new KCPD officers.

From the legislation . . . 

Here's the ceiling for the rank & file given the new pay hike: 

Detectives, Investigators and Police Officers ($87,636)

So the mayor's PROPOSED increase to $65,000 starting salary for KCPD officers isn't so impressive in retrospect . . . $70K per year probably would have grabbed more attention from prospective cops.

To be fair, at www.TonysKansasCity.com we're glad the Mayor made public safety the focus of his recent remarks. 

However . . .

It's important for voters to know how Kansas City government works. The implication put forward by Mayor Q's office and local media is that the state of the city speech was the announcement of a grandiose effort give police more cash. The reality is that Mayor Q is merely offering policy makers another idea and hoping to build from work accomplished by Missouri elected officials in Republican-dominated Jefferson City.

Developing . . .