Chief Rick Smith

Public safety activists are "incredibly disappointed" that the board is holding just one public meeting to introduce the finalists.

Kansas City police officers can now live across the state line, as long as it's within 30 miles of Kansas City. Mayor Quinton Lucas opposed the expanded residency requirement.

Accusations of racism in the Kansas City, Missouri police department have faith leaders calling for a culture change as the Board of Police Commissioners searches for a new chief of police.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the current system of state control over the KCPD undermines the voices of Kansas City residents.

Police Chief Rick Smith cited staffing shortages in the department as his reason for disbanding the Missing Persons Cold Case Squad.

Residents gathered on Kansas City's east side called for a police chief who would spend time in majority-Black communities and take bold steps to dismantle racism within the department.

At a virtual forum Saturday, social justice leaders and community members discussed the hiring process and brainstormed the qualities they want to see in the next chief.

Contrary to the police union president’s claim that Kansas City is “defunding the police,” the city is poised to hire new officers and raise salaries.

Police commissioners were mum Wednesday after a video surfaced in which Smith could be heard saying the "bad guy's dead" following the fatal shooting of Cameron Lamb, a Black man killed by KCPD Detective Erik DeValkenaere, who was convicted last month of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.

After a closed-door session Monday, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners announced that it never voted to fire Smith and that he “remains in good standing” with the board.

According to a memo obtained by KCUR, Smith would step down as police chief April 22, 2022 and be paid his normal salary through August. On Tuesday, Smith told media outlets and city officials he had no plans to leave the department.

Two business groups made recommendations, including independent investigations of excessive force cases. Police Chief Rick Smith had no comment but complained that his staffing levels will soon be the lowest in 25 years.