KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City police and the public are just beginning to feel the effect of fewer officers on the street, according the Chief Jim Corwin’s
blog.
It said police response times rose from 5.85 minutes in July to 6.19 minutes in September. July had a higher number of calls for service than September.
The Chief’s blog said because of staffing shortages in the Headquarters Detention Unit, there are no longer civilian detention officers at any of the six patrol divisions. Police officers must now serve as detention officers. At times, it forces police to spend more time out of service dropping off arrested individuals, according to the blog.
When asked his opinion at his tree lighting ceremony, Mayor Mark Funkhouser consulted his wife, and then declined comment.
“I think we’ll stick to Christmas tree stuff (Friday night),” Mayor Funkhouser said.
Chief Corwin said a recent “Right-Sizing Committee” just surveyed and reviewed job duties of all the department’s civilian employees to determine where the most critical needs were. Some civilian employees will be transferred to different jobs to fill the most critical spots. Others will take on the duties of two positions.
