By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
April 4, 2012

Pendleton Heights residents aren’t content sitting idle. And they’re not content letting crime overtake the neighborhood.

During the March 13 neighborhood association meeting, members approved hiring off-duty Kansas City Police Department officers to patrol Independence Avenue, which surrounds the neighborhood.

Since Independence Avenue is a main thoroughfare, it attracts crime like prostitution and drug deals. That kind of reputation could discourage potential residents from moving into Pendleton Heights, said Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association Vice President Christy Maddux.

“If you look at all the statistics, crime is mainly happening on the avenue,” Maddux said. “We’re thinking if we can get the presence of security on the avenue, it will push the crime away.”

One resident questioned why Pendleton Heights should pay for officers to patrol Independence Avenue and not Pendleton Heights. He further argued that Independence Avenue already has a strong police presence.

Central Patrol Officer Chris Taylor agreed that police patrol the avenue, but said when an officer receives a call somewhere else in Central Patrol, the officer must respond and leave the area.

“By having the off-duty (officers), they’re dedicated to being right here. They don’t answer calls anywhere else.”

Using off-duty officers in other Kansas City neighborhoods has proved successful, he told Northeast News.

“When people see us more often, they’re less likely to cause trouble,” he explained.

Taylor stressed if the neighborhood hires off-duty officers that the patrolling needs to be ongoing.

“If you only do it for one or two shifts, then the benefit is lost,” he said.

Pendleton Heights plans to hire at least one off-duty KCPD officer to patrol the avenue and will form an LLC to resolve any liability issues. Funding for the project will come from soliciting donations from business owners on Independence Avenue and through other fundraisers. The goal is to raise enough funding for patrolling at least two nights a week for several hours from May through September. The cost for one officer during that timeframe would be approximately $3,780.

“It’s about us taking care of us and having someone there,” Pendleton Heights President Jessica Ray said. “We feel like our biggest challenge is the avenue and all the things that happen on it. This is a stab at the problem with some good research and statistics behind it.”

Area residents are encouraged to participate in the April 28 fundraiser “Bingo, Burgers & Beer: A FUNdraiser for Pendleton Heights” from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Brick, 1727 McGee, Kansas City, Mo. Bingo prizes, raffle tickets and a silent auction will be available. All proceeds will go toward hiring an off-duty police officer.