By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
June 8, 2011

When the Kansas City Missouri Board of Police Commissioners announced it would implement foot patrolling in four crime-ridden areas, Northeast crossed its fingers to be included.

It wasn’t superstition that worked, but hard data.

Kansas City Police Department analyzed three years of crime data to choose its four areas for foot patrolling and chose two areas each in the East Patrol and Central Patrol divisions.

The Northeast foot patrolling area includes Independence Avenue from Chestnut to Chelsea avenues, and approximately half a block on either side of Independence Avenue. Other foot patrolling areas are Wyandotte to Main Street and Armour Boulevard to 39th Street; Prospect Avenue to Benton Boulevard and 25th Street to 28th Street; and Armour Boulevard from Warick to Wayne.

“I was tremendously excited,” said District 40 State Rep. John Rizzo. “I think it will provide more community relationships with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. I know a lot of people in Northeast are scared to call the police department in fear of the ramifications of the criminals themselves.”

Rizzo hopes that will change.

Northeast’s HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Public Safety) Executive Director Michael Seward also voiced gratefulness for Northeast being chosen.

“I’m just incredibly excited about the momentum and support we’re seeing all come together in Northeast right now,” Seward said. “We’re trying to revitalize that area, so having more eyes along Independence Avenue and support to deter crime is very valuable.”

Seward is currently talking to the police department about expanding the area to Prospect Avenue, which would include the HELP Center. Regardless, Seward’s excited about the foot patrolling, he said.

Each of the four foot patrolling areas include approximately 15 intersections and 1.3 to 1.5 roadway miles, said Kansas City Police Department’s Maj. Roger Lewis.

Nineteen police academy graduates are slated to begin foot patrolling Aug. 1. However, those graduates are currently participating in field training, so the numbers may change, Lewis said. Using current numbers, one division will receive 10 officers and the other nine. Officers will work in two shifts: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31. At least two officers will be assigned to each shift in each foot patrol area, Lewis said.

“It makes a whole lot of sense to have foot patrolling along Independence Avenue,” said Scott Wagner, 1st District City of Kansas City Council member. “The challenge is to go beyond this program because it’s finite. It will end after a few months.”

Asked if KCPD will consider continuing the foot patrolling program once the 90-day period expires, Lewis said “it’s on the table,” but will depend on whether or not there’s another graduating police academy class. Funds are not currently available to hold another police academy and hire additional officers, he said.

However, KCPD will continue to evaluate the effects of the program, the control areas and crime data, he said.

“Based on all of that information, it’s going to dictate to us whether we need to keep the officers in the same area (after the 90-day period), move them slightly or move them drastically.”