By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
November 9, 2011

Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forté attended the City Council Business session Nov. 3 and presented an overview of the department, as well as upcoming plans.

Fort said he understands the financial constraints and said some things will need to be consolidated, while others will be eliminated or outsourced.

“It won’t be a hostile type working relationship,” he said of working with the city.

One of his priorities includes reducing violent crime, which he’s already addressing with “hot spots.”

These four hot spots span 13 square miles and contain 50 percent of Kansas City’s homicides as well as 42 percent of the aggravated assaults involving firearms.

Where are these hot spots?

“The criminals don’t tell us where they’re going to strike,” he said.

KCPD is seeing success with the hot spots, he said.

In one week, Oct.22-29, KCPD apprehended six homicide suspects, a first to his knowledge, Forté said. Police officers also arrested 17 individuals selling narcotics on the street, 15 individuals for possession of narcotics and 14 for distribution of narcotics. More than 662 car checks and pedestrian checks were conducted in the hot spot areas.

“We’re still pulling the numbers together on the numerous felon in possession of firearms cases we’re working,” he said.

“If we didn’t have these tables in between each other, I’d give you a high five,” City Council member Michael Brooks said. “It’s long overdue. Thanks chief for not just speaking the words, but for taking action.”

City Council member John Sharp added that Forté has experience with the city and its citizens and knows what needs to be done.

“It’s phenomenal that in less than a week, six homicide suspects were arrested. That’s the kind of results that I think all of us have hoped for and I am just so pleased to see this aggressive approach to go after violent crime,” Sharp said.

Another one of Forté’s priorities is to hold public forums every quarter. The first one is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Location is to be determined.

“This won’t be an open mic to complain about different things,” he said.

Instead, the room will be divided into small groups with representatives from various divisions of the police department. That way, residents will be able to sit down and talk to the division they may be having issues with, Forté said.

Attendees will be encouraged to sign a “community contract” which outlines what he or she is willing to do to help the police department as well as what the police department is willing to do.

“We have to start getting people engaged,” Forté said.

Community engagement is necessary in reducing crime, he said.

Neither the police department nor the community can reduce crime by themselves. It needs to be a team effort, he said.

Within the next 30 days, Forté plans to conduct a “zero base review” to evaluate any program or initiative instigated within the last 10 years.

The review will evaluate whether or not the program has been effective and will redirect employees working on ineffective projects.