By Paul Thompson
Northeast News

By March of 2018, the Kansas City, Missouri Police department expects to have a social worker embedded at every patrol division.

The department announced on the afternoon of Friday, January 26 that funding had been approved to expand its Social Services Coordinator pilot program department-wide. Chief of Police Rick Smith created the initiative in December of 2016 while he was serving as the Commander of the Central Patrol Division. At that time, he tapped former No Violence Alliance (NoVA) social worker Gina English as the department’s first-ever Social Services Coordinator.

According to the police department press release, the Hall Family Foundation has pledged $640,000 towards the program, while the City of Kansas City, Missouri will provide an additional $470,000 to fund six social workers – as well as new program coordinator English – for the next three years. The primary function of the social workers will be to provide support and act as a resource for officers through community outreach and service referrals.

“There are a lot of people dealing with issues in Kansas City that are frankly not the job of police to address: family problems, poverty, addiction and more,” Smith said. “But it is those very issues that create crime problems in our community. That’s why KCPD took a leadership role in embedding a social worker in one of our inner-city patrol divisions.”

Hall Family Foundation Vice President Mayra Aguirre told the Northeast News on Jan. 26 that the police department’s Social Services Coordinator program aligns with several areas of interest vital to the organization’s mission. Aguirre added that the Foundation was impressed with the program’s direction during its pilot period.

“In mid-2017 the Foundation had the opportunity to speak with the Police Foundation, Chief Smith and Gina English around its work in helping reduce crime,” Aguirre said. “Specifically, the work Gina English has been engaged in over the last year. We were encouraged by the progress and success she had already had with the program.”

By all accounts, English has earned the promotion. KCMO Communications Director Chris Hernandez indicated that the City’s support of the program is the combined result of English’s job performance and the substantial private investment from the Hall Family Foundation.

“(English) has done a great job, and that’s why we’re being supportive with this,” Hernandez said. “Whenever you get the ability to bring in private money as a matching grant, you always want to step up to the plate. I think it’s very clear that the City is trying to invest in innovative and creative ways to tackle the crime problem.”

When English was initially embedded at Central Patrol Division, she didn’t know whether she’d even have a job come September of 2017. But the pilot program was extended for a year upon its conclusion, and thanks to this latest public/private partnership, she’ll get a promotion along with some employment certainty over the next three years.

“It’s been absolutely unbelievable,” English said. “I was never looking to be the Center Patrol social worker. To me, the goal has always been to grow this and make sure that every division had this resource.”

Still, English said that she’s taken aback after a whirlwind 14 months.

“All the sudden I feel like I can’t breathe,” she said.

The expansion of the Social Services Coordinator position has been a high-priority project for Smith, who stressed the department’s desire to forge non-traditional relationships to decrease crime in the city.

“People who don’t have their basic needs met will always look for alternative means,” Smith said. “The KCPD is striving to assist with those alternative means, as opposed to criminal means.”

English expressed gratitude towards Chief Smith for the faith he’s shown in her throughout the Social Services Coordinator pilot project, and she saved special praise for the men and women of Central Patrol Division.

“I have so much respect and appreciation for him in creating this platform, but my real appreciation goes department-wide,” English said. “I know for a fact that every officer in CPD has my back. That is something that I’ve just been so grateful for.”

“I think that speaks to the willingness and commitment of KCPD in trying new things, and problem-solving, and serving the public,” English added. “That speaks to who the Chief is. There’s a reason everything is lining up: the Chief is the right Chief for now, and this is the right project for now. This is a village, and we’re all working together.”

English realizes that she still has her work cut out for her as she continues to combat violent crime in Kansas City. She feels resolute, however, in her belief that social services can provide key prevention pieces to address violence moving forward.

“The reality is that violent crime fractures lives, and it fractures communities,” English said. “That’s where we’re at. Why wouldn’t you triage that in any way you can?”

The new social workers will work out of each KCPD patrol division, where they will attend weekly crime meetings and communicate regularly with officers on residents in need of assistance, particularly early intervention for at risk youth. The department is expected to post job descriptions for the Social Services Coordinator positions soon.

Anyone interested in learning more about the new positions is encouraged to reach out to Gina English at gina.english@kcpd.org.