December 10, 2022 Meeting
MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022
A meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri was held on Saturday, December 10 2022, in the Auditorium at Robert J. Mohart Multipurpose Center, 3200 Wayne Avenue, Kansas City.
PRESENT:
Commissioner Mark Tolbert, President
Commissioner Cathy Dean, Vice President
Commissioner Don Wagner, Treasurer
Commissioner Dawn Cramer, Member
Mayor Quinton Lucas, Member
Mr. David Kenner, Secretary/Attorney
This meeting was called to order at 9:11 a.m. by Commissioner Tolbert. Commissioner Dawn Cramer attended the meeting by telephone. Mayor Quinton Lucas was not present for the radio discussion; however, he arrived at 10:08 a.m. to observe the candidate interviews.
Commissioner Tolbert advised that City Council passed an Ordinance this past Thursday, December 8, 2022, that outlined the “framework under which the financing for certain radio system equipment can be implemented between the City and Board.” Funds in the amount of $19,072,000.00 were appropriated to the Special Obligation Series 2023B City Projects Fund for the radio system upgrade. General Counsel Holly Dodge provided the Board with a draft, red-lined Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the Board for the radio purchase.
A motion was made by Commissioner Dean, with a second by Commissioner Wagner, to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Board of Police Commissioners for the radio replacement purchase. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
At 9:16 a.m., a motion was made by Commissioner Dean, with a second by Commissioner Wagner, to recess the meeting until the public forum begins at 10:00 a.m. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
At 10:00 a.m., Commissioner Tolbert called the meeting back to order. He welcomed community members to the question-and-answer forum with the three finalists for Chief of Police of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. The three finalists are Major Stacey Graves (KCPD), Inspector DeShawn Beaufort (Philadelphia PD), and Retired Lieutenant Colonel Scott Ebner (New Jersey State Police). Commissioner Tolbert introduced the moderator, Kimiko Gilmore.
The three candidates were interviewed separately; Major Graves was first, Retired Lt. Colonel Ebner was second, and Inspector Beaufort was third. Ms. Gilmore asked each candidate the same ten questions, and each candidate was provided three minutes to answer. The questions asked were submitted by community members, in advance of the meeting.
The questions are as follows: 1) What should the communities that are most impacted by high violent crime expect if you are given this job?; 2) As Chief of Police in Kansas City, how would you boost morale in the Department while maintaining community engagement?; 3) How will you improve the fight against property crimes?; 4) How do you plan to deal with the mental health crisis, specifically the 988 calls regarding children?; 5) What steps will you put in place to make sure our police force is free of racism and sexism?; 6) What do you feel are the top three priorities in Kansas City that need to be addressed if you become Chief of Police?; 7) If appointed Chief, what will you do to improve police and community relations?; 8) As a candidate for Chief of Police, what do you believe is the driving force behind homicides in Kansas City, and what strategies do you have to reduce the homicide rate?; 9) Do you believe that police and youth engagement are important, and what plans do you have to build a stronger relationship between the police and youth?; and 10) At what point in your law enforcement career did you decide that you wanted to be a police chief, and what goals did you plan to achieve as Chief?
After each candidate answered the questions asked by Ms. Gilmore, two audience members per candidate were drawn at random to ask a question. At the conclusion of the forum, Commissioner Tolbert advised that there is a QR code around the room and at the exit for community members for provide feedback on each candidate. He thanked everyone for attending and their participation in the search.
The meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.