KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A U.S. Department of Justice grant announced Wednesday will allow the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department to hire an additional 18 officers to investigate gangs, drug trafficking and other violent crime.
In a news release, Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said the $3.67 million grant will allow the officers to coordinate their efforts with the Justice Department's Operation Relentless Pursuit.
“I am pleased today to announce a substantial Operation Relentless Pursuit grant for our Police Department,” Lucas said in the release. “This nearly $3.7 million grant will fund 18 additional police officers to fight violent crime in Kansas City.”
Police and city leaders are continuing to work on strategies to reduce the amount of violent crime in the city. Through May 12, the city has reported 59 homicides, which is a five-year, year-to-date high.
The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department also received a $1.3 million federal grant through the Operation Relentless Pursuit initiative, which was announced Tuesday.
The initiative focuses on seven areas with higher-than-average violent crime rates. Other cities include Albuquerque, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Memphis and Milwaukee.
