On Wednesday, local law enforcement officials and elected leaders announced a comprehensive crime prevention framework and upcoming Town Hall meetings.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker and Kansas City Health Department Violence Prevention and Policy Manager Dr. Marvia Jones announced the Reform Project to address Kansas City’s epidemic of violent crime

The framework, accompanied by the launch of a new website, is described as a long-term community-based commitment that focuses on four pillars: prevention, intervention, enforcement and administrative reform.

“I was born here,” Lucas said. “I am too used to us talking about murder records all the time. It’s been a news story most of the years of my life. When I was a little kid, now that I’m mayor, and every year in between. Today, we are saying: we will work with you. We will work with anybody to address violent crime issues. We need a community that cares about a young Black child in the same way they do at age 6 at age 16 or age 26.”

He called Wednesday’s announcement an intentional starting point, not a final plan, and that the project needs community input. Lucas said they will continue actively seeking feedback as the project works to build a safer community for everyone.

“If we don’t intervene early and reach vulnerable households across our city to chip away at toxic stress and its contributing factors, we will continue to see generations of people become victims and offenders,” Jones said. “If you’re ready to support the transformative, enduring work to truly reduce violence in our city, it won’t be a single program or a single group or even a single plan. What we need is everyone picking up this plan and committing to implementing one to two of the recommended strategies that will truly change how we relate to each other in Kansas City.”

Kansas City has been affected by COVID-19 and violence this summer, with the homicide total reaching 146 on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

“Through the Public Safety Partnership, we’ve been involved with some best practices with other cities across the nation,” Smith said. “I think we all know the toll violence takes on our community, our families, the people involved, our victims, and even our suspects when there are these violent tendencies. This very much needs to change. I’m hoping with these pillars and with the Mayor’s support, we can make a difference in this city.”

Peters Baker said hurt people hurt people, and every day in this community people who are traumatized by violence become a new, violent statistic: a defendant, a victim, a suspect, or a survivor.

“Violence in Kansas City is a public health epidemic,” Peters Baker said. “It’s the pandemic with a gun. With continued funding for our community advocates and this new partnership with the Health Department, I believe we can make this system better.”

There are four town halls scheduled in October. Location details and call-in information are forthcoming, and additional opportunities for community engagement will continue to be announced.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, there will be a Neighborhood Walking Tour in the Lykins neighborhood at 5:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 5:30 p.m., a Town Hall will be held on the topic of prevention. On Monday, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m., a Town Hall will be held on the topic of intervention. On Saturday, Oct. 17, at 11 a.m., a Town Hall will be held on the topic of law enforcement in the community. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m., a Town Hall will be held on the topic of reform.