Measures include substantial changes to community complaint process; strengthened whistleblower protections

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas will offer several key change measures for debate and final vote during the August Board of Police Commissioners meeting, tomorrow, August 25.

“The measures I propose will help increase accountability and build community trust—which will lead to a safer city for all,” said Mayor Lucas. “These measures would codify an officer’s duty to intervene when the officer sees excessive force being applied by another officer and would enhance whistleblower protections for members of the Kansas City Police Department when filing a complaint regarding a person or circumstance within the organization.”

“Additionally, having an internal Office of Community Complaints report structure is problematic as a matter of independence and review as has been seen; thus, I have introduced a resolution that would compel the Kansas City Police Department to transition to an independent OCC framework as soon as possible,” continued Mayor Lucas. “Currently, the Office of Community Complaints director sends final determination to the Board of Police Commissioners ‘and/or’ the Chief of Police following a review. The review process needs greater independence outside the Board or department leadership.”

“Further, the current policy prohibiting third-party complaints deters the community from reporting misconduct,” continued Mayor Lucas. “Credible claims where a victim-claimant may be unwilling initially to share their own pain, such as sexual harassment or sexual assault claims, will now see the light of day if a third-party can speak.”

“I look forward to a robust discussion tomorrow on these measures and subsequent implementation by the Kansas City Police Department,” continued Mayor Lucas. “While these are positive changes, we continue our work to create a safer community for community members and police officers alike.”

These measures include:

1. Codifying an officer’s duty to intervene/interrupt situations where the officer sees excessive or potentially deadly force being applied by another officer, and enhancing whistleblower protections for officer-on-officer complaints;
2. Increasing independence for police review, including:
1. Referring all sustained complaints to the county prosecutor; and
2. Moving the Office of Community Complaints (OCC) out of the Kansas City Police Department.
3. Reforming the community complaint process, including the following:
1. Extending the time to file a complaint;
2. Allowing complaints by persons of any age;     
3. Allowing third-party complaints.
4. Requiring the Board of Police Commissioners to reopen meetings to the public, with proper social distancing measures in place.

Earlier this summer, Mayor Lucas led the Board of Police Commissioners in implementing immediate Kansas City Police Department reforms in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and calls for local police reform. In that meeting, the Board of Police Commissioners approved several oversight measures, including requiring the Kansas City Police Department to provide weekly updates to the City Council to inform the public about the Department’s ongoing community engagement efforts; sending all officer-involved shootings and all major use of force complaints to an outside enforcement agency for independent review; and reversing the policy of not sending probable cause statements to the relevant County Prosecutor’s office in officer-involved shootings.

Kansas Citians can watch the Board of Police Commissioners meeting on KCMO Channel 2. Comments can be submitted to the board before Tuesday’s meeting at bopc@kcpd.org.

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