Chief's Blog: KCPD Creates New Community Engagement Division
From Chief Mabin's blog:
"Between our police officers and civilian employees, KCPD has nearly 1,700 department members who serve Kansas City every day and make it a better place to live.
I am proud of this department.
Still, we can be better. We can serve better. And that is why I have authorized the creation of a new Community Engagement Division effective Dec. 11.
This division will better utilize the people and resources that already exist to contribute to Kansas City’s well-being while still working out of individual patrol divisions. It will unify services we provide that once functioned within their own silos. Now, they will be intertwined, helping us communicate better and streamline resources. This will ultimately provide better service to our residents and businesses.
I have selected Major Kari Thompson to lead the new Community Engagement Division. Thompson, who was most recently the major at East Patrol Division, will oversee the following:
KCPD’s Social Workers
KCPD’s Community Interaction Officers (CIOs)
KCPD’s Crisis Intervention Team (CITs)
KCPD’s Crime-Free Multi-Housing Officers (CFMH)
KCPD’s Chaplains
KCPD’s newest LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer
Our officers already engage with our community each day. Yet this new division is here to show and remind residents that we’re making the effort to strengthen our community bonds and improve all our relationships."