Stacey Graves

After yet another violent weekend, city leaders and community activists gathered at 35th Street and Prospect Avenue at the behest of neighbors who say they are sick of the constant crime. Mayor Quinton Lucas said he will close businesses that don’t comply with anti-violence efforts.

During a public budget hearing, Kansas City Police budget officials told city council that $3.5 million would be enough to cover legal expenses. Two months later, the board announced $18.1 million in lawsuit settlements — a surprise to city officials, who don't have any control over the department.

So far this year, Kansas City has recorded 12 homicides related to domestic violence – which was the total attributed to the problem last year. There wasn’t a single contributing factor, but Mayor Quinton Lucas cited the large number of guns in the city.

The homicide rate dipped to the lowest number in the last six years, said Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves. But the number of people who were shot and survived increased by nearly 12%, leaving hundreds of people with gunshot wounds.

Property crimes have increased by 31% between 2019 and 2023. Much of that is due to a spike in car thefts. Faced with mounting public criticism, Kansas City officials are looking at solutions that include a new temporary jail.

In the final few minutes of a Kansas City Board of Police meeting where juvenile crime and juvenile victims dominated the discussions, Mayor Quinton Lucas teared up and left before the meeting ended.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves is casting blame on a lack of consequences for young people who commit property crimes like stealing cars. She says that light punishments from the juvenile court system are emboldening teens and causing the crimes to escalate — like in the recent murder of Shaun Brady.

Kansas City officials want to reconstitute the jail on the top floor of KCPD headquarters. The city closed the jail in 2015, and — after an agreement with Jackson County fell through — now sends detainees to mid-Missouri.

Several Kansas City communities are calling on police to do more about crime, amid an ongoing spike in car thefts. Graves says more severe consequences are necessary, and having more space to house city detainees could help.

Police Chief Stacey Graves said she is frustrated that many teens charged with violent crimes don't face stiffer consequences. She made suggestions to juvenile court authorities.

Jackson County charged two 16-year-olds with gun offenses and resisting arrest in connection with the Chiefs victory parade shooting that killed one and injured 24. Now, one of the teens faces felony charges for unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves’ first year coincided with the city’s deadliest on record, with 185 homicides in 2023. Kansas City is an outlier to many U.S. cities, where murders decreased.