In the wake of unrest in Baltimore, Maryland and Ferguson, Missouri, the Kansas City Police Department held a community peace rally at Linwood and Prospect Saturday morning.
Mayor Sly James told the crowd of several dozen police officers, community members and city council members that keeping the city peaceful will require a continued cooperative effort.
"The issues that arose in Ferguson are not unique to Ferguson," James said. "The issues can arise here just as easily, just as quickly, if we are not vigilant."
James cited the No Violence Alliance's Prospect corridor initiative to cut down violent crime and various programs that reach out to impoverished youth as ways that the city is working to keep the peace.
Police Chief Darryl Forte also spoke at the event. He said the department is making what's called "tactical disengagement" a bigger priority. The idea is that, in certain situations, retreating temporarily could prevent the use of lethal force.
"When you're chasing someone into a wooded area [and they're] known to be armed and dangerous, sometimes you tactically retreat," Forte said. "It's nothing new, but it's just something we're going to reinforce."
