July 21, 2022 Special Teleconference Meeting

Publish Date 07/21/2022

MINUTES OF THE

BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

A meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri was held on Thursday, July 21, 2022, via telephone conference.

PRESENT:

Commissioner Mark Tolbert, President

Commissioner Cathy Dean, Vice President

Commissioner Dawn Cramer, Member

Mayor Quinton Lucas, Member

Mr. David V. Kenner, Secretary/Attorney

ABSENT:

Commissioner Mark Tolbert, President

Commissioner Don Wagner, Treasurer

This meeting was called to order at 9:34 a.m. by Commissioner Dean. Everyone in attendance did so via telephone conference. Commissioners Tolbert and Wagner had excused absences.

Deputy Chief Doug Niemeier explained that on November 10, 2021, the Department ordered three Ford T-350 cargo vans at a cost of $34,205.00 each, for a total cost of $102,615.00. On July 3, 2022, the Fleet Operations Unit was informed by Ford that these vehicles could not be delivered due to supply chain issues and microchip shortages. On July 5, 2022, Ford offered the option to reorder the vans in the 2023 model. This is an additional cost of $44,571.00 to the original order, increasing the new total cost to $147,186.00. Deputy Chief Niemeier noted that this quote is only valid through July 22, 2022. He also explained that the original expense of $102,615.00 was encumbered in the previous year’s budget, and will be used towards this purchase.

A motion was made by Commissioner Mayor, with a second by Commissioner Cramer, to approve the purchase of three Ford T-350 cargo vans from Shawnee Mission Ford, at a total cost of $147,186.00. The vote was 3-0 in favor. Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.

Mayor Lucas thanked Deputy Chief Niemeier for his leadership and assistance in the investigation surrounding the officer-involved shooting and line-of-duty death of Fallen North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez. Mayor Lucas noted that through this tragic time, KCPD has provided great assistance and professionalism towards the North Kansas City Police Department, North Kansas City community, and the family and friends of Officer Vasquez. Commissioner Dean echoed Mayor Lucas’s comments.

Deputy Chief Niemeier explained that Officer Vasquez was previously employed as a KCPD Detention Facility Officer, and worked for him when he was a Major assigned to East Patrol. Deputy Chief Niemeier stated that Officer Vasquez was a nice and respectable young man, and always had ambitions of being a police officer. He was hired by North Kansas City Police Department during KCPD’s hiring freeze. He also added that a lot of KCPD members knew Officer Vasquez personally from his time in the Department’s Detention Unit.

Commissioner Dean asked a question regarding a social media post about 13 million unspent dollars in the budget. Deputy Chief Niemeier stated that the funding referred to is calculated in three separate accounts. The first is a special revenue account for self-funded units, to include revenue from the Private Officers Licensing Unit, Private Alarm Section, and fees from records/reports requests. This account also includes funding for police training funds. All funds in this account cannot be spent outside of their intended purposes. The second account is a liability fund, that includes money for settlements, workers’ compensation escrow, and payment to the Department’s third-party administrator, Gallagher Bassett. Deputy Chief Niemeier explained that these funds are state-mandated. The third account holds asset forfeiture and seizure funding from the Federal government. This is a rolling fund that can only be used to fund equipment.

Deputy Chief Niemeier explained that, as stated in the Department’s Extra Daily Informant, the funds from these accounts rollover each year. It is fund balance that fluctuates every year, is not cumulative, and does not equal $48 million dollars. Commissioner Dean inquired if these funds could be used for pay increases and/or hazard pay. Deputy Chief Niemeier stated that these specific funds cannot; however, the Fiscal Division will take a closer look at excess funds at the conclusion of this fiscal year’s second quarter. Deputy Chief Niemeier stated that if funding is availabile, employees need a raise. Mayor Lucas provided Deputy Chief with four questions that he would like a follow-up discussion on at the meeting on August 23, 2022. These items will be added to the meeting agenda for next month.

A motion was made by Mayor Lucas, with a second by Commissioner Cramer, to adjourn the open session meeting. The vote was 3-0 in favor. Commissioner Dean voted Aye, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, and Mayor Lucas voted Aye.

The Board adjourned at 9:57 a.m.