KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor David Alvey said he hopes a new task force will “create a community that values the life and dignity of every person.”
The mayor announced the newly-formed Task Force on Community and Police Relations at a Monday morning press conference.
The task force will be co-chaired by Unified Government of Wyandotte County Commissioner Harold Johnson.
Members will include:
- Rev. Tony Carter Jr. of Salem Missionary Baptist Church
- Yareli Castor, Donnelly College student and KCK resident
- Randy Lopez, of the Wyandotte Health Foundation and USD 500 Board of Education
- Monsignor Stuart Swetland, Donnelly College president
- Michael York, interim KCK police chief
- Don Ash, Wyandotte County sheriff
The task force’s objective “is to build and strengthen trust between the community and law enforcement by identifying issues, perceptions, and challenges to that trust that exist today, creating awareness and providing a vehicle and forum in which these issues can be addressed by law enforcement, local officials, and the community as a whole,” according to a press release.
The group will gather input from the community on law enforcement in Wyandotte County and “undertake appropriate changes” based on their findings.
Alvey hopes the task force will host its first listening session within the next two weeks. He wants those forums to be opportunities for people to voice concerns. He said one reason the chief of police and sheriff are on the task force is so they can take concerns and immediately change their policies to better reflect the community.
“I’m ready for some positive change, open dialogue with the community. I want to hear what they have to say and how I can do it better. How my officers can do it better,” York said.
During the news conference announcing the task force, a handful of community members spoke up, telling instances of police misconduct or lack of accountability.
Trina Crawford told the story of a friend of hers being treated as a suspect instead of a victim after being involved in a car crash with a KCK police officer. Crawford admitted instances like that have made her lose trust in the police department.
“We’re going to hold them accountable to that. You put it out there, so we’re going to make sure you follow through, that they follow through with what they spoke today,” Crawford said after the news conference.
Johnson said just because George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery didn’t die in Kansas City, doesn’t mean the city gets a pass on reexamining the culture and policies of law enforcement.
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