KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Soon every division in the Kansas City Police Department will have a full-time social worker on staff.
KCPD made the announcement last Friday.
41 Action News spoke with Gina English. English was the only social worker on staff at KCPD under then Major Smith at Center Patrol.
"I really want my job and the job of the other social workers to help provide the best customer service. We never want an officer to go in a situation and say that is not what we do, or what we help. We want them to say it’s not necessarily what we do, but I will come back with answers," said English.
The change now adds a social worker to the staff at every division in the department.
English said the social workers will attend weekly meetings and help build a bridge between police and the community.
She said the social workers will help educate police on resources that can be made available to the public.
"We have some very fractured communities that are drowning in violence. And those are some of the communities where I am going to knock on doors and trying to be there and of service, to build some trust. The only way those communities begin to heal is through trust," said English.
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