Northeast News
Feb. 11, 2011

Mayor Mark Funkhouser and the Kansas City Police Board agreed today to hire an outside auditor and independent counsel to look into lobbying, entertainment and other expenses at the Kansas City Police Department.

Mayor Funkhouser said he was upset that top police department executives, including Police Chief James Corwin, had abused the public trust by sidestepping rules limiting public spending on meals and alcohol.

“At a time when the city is struggling to get more done for our residents with fewer dollars, this is not acceptable,” Mayor Funkhouser said. “The public’s trust is at stake.”

Mayor Funkhouser said he became aware of the allegations against Corwin and some of his command staff when an anonymous tip was sent to the Board of Police Commissioners. The Mayor sent a letter to Corwin earlier this week.

“I have fought for additional police funding, at some political expense, because it is the right thing to do,” Funkhouser said in his letter. “I have fought because I know that in order for anything else to work with the city of Kansas City, it must be safe and be perceived to be safe.”

“To learn that some of those precious public safety dollars are going to high-dollar dinners and booze is a slap in the face. It is a slap in the face as well to the men and women who proudly wear the uniform of the Kansas City Police Department.”

Funkhouser said he is “frustrated” by the allegations, especially in light of Corwin’s statement that the high-dollars meals were charged to the city.

Corwin and his command staff already have repaid some expenses.

“The Mayor sits on the Board of Police Commissioners as a watchdog for Kansas City taxpayers,” Funkhouser said. “I take that role very seriously. Every dollar will be accounted for, as well as any additional issues that surface during the audit.”

“The most fundamental role of city government is public safety. These funds could have been used to hire additional police.”

Funkhouser expressed his gratitude to Kansas City Police Board President Patrick McInerney for quickly bringing the matter to the board’s attention.