By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
October 7, 2011

With a unanimous vote, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners elected Kansas City Police Department Deputy Chief Darryl Forté as Kansas City’s new police chief.

Forté will be sworn in as chief at a later date.

The board announced their decision during an 11:45 a.m. press conference today at police headquarters.

A 26-year law enforcement veteran, Forté said he’s humbled by the announcement of his new role. He will continue to be open, honest and accessible, he said.

Since he has yet to be sworn in, Forté said he couldn’t detail all of his plans, but said he plans to focus on community policing, engaging the community and solving Kansas City’s violent crime problems. One plan includes assigning officers to “hot spots” in the city, which span a 13-square mile area, where homicides and violent crime occur the most. Forté said he wants to ensure the police’s resources are in the right place.