KCMO mayor announces new transparency, accountability measures for KCPD

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas provided an update Thursday afternoon on the outcome of an emergency meeting with the Board of Police Commissioners.

ATTENDING A PROTEST.HERE'S A LIVE LOOK FROMTHE PLAZA WHEREPEOPLE ARE GATHERINGFOR THE 7TH DAY IN AROW.THEY'RE DEMANDINGJUSTICE - ACTION - ANDCHANGE FOLLOWING THEDEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.AND SOME OF THATACTION THEY'REDEMANDING - IS COMINGTO LIFE.KANSAS CITY'S MAYORANNOUNCED CHANGESDESIGNED TO HOLD THEPOLICE DEPARTMENTACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIRACTIONS.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER NICK STARLINGJOINS US LIVE TO EXPLAINWHAT'S CHANGING.THE MAYOR SAYS HEWANTS MOREACCOUNTABILITY ANDTRANSPARENCY FROMKCPD.SO AFTER THE BOARD OFPOLICE COMMISSIONERSMEETING TODAY --HE ANNOUNCED SWEEPINGCHANGES STARTINGTODAY.IN THE MIDST OFPROTESTS AND CALLS FORCHANGE-MAYOR QUINTON LUCASANNOUNCED NEWOVERSIGHT MEASURESFOR POLICE.Mayor Quinton Lucas, KansasCity,MOIt's all recognizing thataccountability is important for21st century policing and it'simportant in Kansas City.HERE'S WHAT'SCHANGING...USE OF FORCECOMPLAINTS WILL BEEXAMINED THROUGHTHIRD PARTY AGENCIESLIKE THE FBI OR LOCAL U-SATTORNEY'S OFFICE.PROBABLE CAUSESTATEMENTS WILL BEREQUIRED FOR EVERYOFFICER-INVOLVEDSHOOTING --AS WELL AS THIS CHANGE.Mayor Quinton Lucas, KansasCity,MOAll officer involved shootingswill be reviewed by an outsideagency, every one.AFTER POLICE USED THEMDURING PROTESTS THISPAST WEEK --THE MAYOR ALSO WANTSKCPD TO REVIEW IT'S TEARGAS AND OTHERPROJECTILE POLICY.Mayor Quinton Lucas, KansasCity,MOIt's my view that tear gas andother projectiles should beused only in situations wherethere is an imminent threat tothe life of either the officerorothers in an environment.AND WANTS PROTECTIONFOR WHISTLEBLOWERSWITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.ANOTHER CHANGE...CITY COUNCIL VOTING ONPROTECTING PEOPLE WHOTAKE VIDEO OF POLICECONDUCT -- AS LONG ASYOU ARE NOTINTERFERING.PEOPLE LIKE RODERICKREED --HE TOOK THIS VIDEO OFPOLICE ARRESTING ATRANSGENDER WOMANLAST MAY --POLICE ORIGINALLYCHARGED HIM WITH APARKING VIOLATION ANDOBSTRUCTING JUSTICE.Roderick Reed:Couldn't believe that policeofficers would carry on andbehave the way that theywere.THE OFFICERS INVOLVEDIN THAT CASE NOW FACECHARGES --BUT NOT REED....TODAY MAYOR LUCASPARDONED HIM.Roderick Reed:I'm very grateful but I woullike for the mayor of KansasCity, Missouri and all thepeople to apologize to me inperson, that is the only thing Iwill accept they were wrong.ANOTHER CHANGE IS THEMAYOR WANTS SOMEONEWITH KCPD TO BE ATWEEKLY CITY COUNCILMEETINGS TO ALLOWCOUNCIL MEMBERS TO ASKQUESTIONS AND SEE HOWTHEY ARE PROGRESSING.REPORTING LIVENICK STARL