Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Mark Holland is teaming up with local clergy to discuss ways to combat community violence just four days after an 82-year-old reverend was assaulted and robbed outside his own church.
Reverend Thomas Kearns was hit in the head and knocked unconscious by two unknown men Friday afternoon outside his car while in front of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The robbers stole his wallet and his 2012 Honda Civic.
The church told 41 Action News Tuesday that the reverend had a successful surgery on Monday and is doing "good."
Mark Holland is continuing his efforts to fight local crime by connecting with clergy. He hosted a "Clergy Roundtable" Tuesday night at JC Harmon High School to discuss ways to fight violent crime.
"Addressing the metro wide drug problem is big. Certainly the poorer areas tend to host the drug activity and that's where the violence is," said Holland during an interview Tuesday afternoon.
Holland added the following in a press release:
“The voices of our residents are a critical part of this process and I want to encourage their participation,” Mayor Holland said. “We cannot address the important issues our community faces unless we hear from the people who are most affected by them—the people who live and work in KCK.”
Reverend Clarence Miller III is one of the several attending Tuesday night's forum. He was shocked to hear of Rev. Kearns' assault and hopes the open discussions lead to change.
"I hope to leave with some solutions," said Miller III. "The mayor and the police department are really paying close attention now."
Police are looking for two individuals involved in the aggravated robbery and aggravated battery of Reverend Thomas Kearns
The first individual police are looking for is described as a black male, approximately 18 years old, between 5-foot-10-inches and 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, with short hair. The second individual is described as a black male, approximately 16 years old, between 5-foot-6-inches and 5-foot-7-inches tall, 150 pounds and short hair.
The priest’s 2012 four-door Honda Civic LX is light blue in color and has the Kansas license plate number 238JAF. Police said the car has noticeable damage on the passenger’s side of the front bumper.
Anyone with information should call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477 or the Robbery Unit at 913-573-6052.
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