KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mayor Quinton Lucas and other city council members from Kansas City, Missouri, have until the end of the day Tuesday to respond to a lawsuit challenging changes the city made to how it funds the police department.
The lawsuit in Jackson County, Missouri, Circuit Court calls two ordinances the majority of city council passed last month illegal.
The ordinances reduced the police department’s budget but called on returning the money to the police department through a newly created community services and crime prevention fund.
Lucas said the process would provide more accountability within and more local control to the department.
Currently, a group of commissioners appointed by the governor plus the mayor oversee the department.
In a lawsuit, the Board of Police Commissioners call the ordinances illegal and argue they will obstruct the police department’s mission.
In a previous order, the judge gave Lucas and others until June 15 to respond to the lawsuit.
Monday, the Urban League of Greater Kansas City filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit basically saying the Board of Police Commissioners itself illegally represents the taxpayers.
Coincidentally, the Board of Police Commissioners meets for its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday.
