By Joe Jarosz

Northeast News

December 10, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Crime numbers continue to decrease in the major categories throughout the East Patrol Division.

That was the message Major Rick Smith gave to the Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee last Wednesday while presenting a department update on where the division stands in terms of statistics compared to last year and community policing.

Compared to Dec. 3, 2013, homicides are down 41 percent in the EPD, 22 this year to 37 last year. Smith also noted that compared to last year, stolen automobiles, property damage, robberies and burglaries are down. Narcotics and weapons arrests have increased since last year, as well. However, there was an increase in in simple assaults and sex crimes.

“We usually see those numbers [for stolen autos] rise in the winter because of the running cars but right now, it’s looking pretty good,” Smith said.

The major also highlighted the work of Public Information Officer Jason Cooley, who recently participated in a vehicle inspection clinic at the Church of the Resurrection to help teach women about vehicle preventative maintenance. Smith said Advanced Auto also partnered for the event which taught what to do in the winter if their car breaks down and other safety tips. The event was well attended and Smith said planning is underway for another to be held soon.

Smith also noted that East Patrol officers have been working with neighborhood leaders who are either new to the position or struggling to find their footing. He said they plan to bring some of the more established community leaders in to speak with and help those who need help.

“We can facilitate that and help the area neighborhood groups,” Smith said.

Committee members Jermaine Reed and John Sharp, representatives of the third and sixth districts respectively, both commented on the improving relations between not just the East Patrol and the community, but the Kansas City Police Department as a whole. Reed noted that compared to this time last year, citywide the homicide rate has decreased from 95 to 69.

“That shows a lot of progress and I applaud the work of East Patrol and the police department,” Reed said.

At the recent National League of Cities meeting that many from the Kansas City City Council attended, Reed and Sharp noted how the relationships between the community and the city’s police department were well talked about and leading examples on how relationships should be throughout the country. Reed also thanked Smith for seeing so many officers active in the community over the holiday weekend. Although he welcomed the praise, Smith noted that the growing relationships are something that the department has been working on over time.

“It’s that kind of longterm community involvement that has helped with progress,” Smith said.