Month: May 2021

A new police chief, Karl Oakman, was named today for Kansas City, Kansas.

Karl Oakman, deputy chief of the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, was chosen for the new police chief.

Oakman, during an announcement, said he wanted young people to know they can achieve their goals and dreams. He encouraged adults to mentor young people.

“Look at myself, a young man who grew up in the housing projects in Argentine,” Oakman said. “I’m returning 30 years later as chief of police of that same community. And that was only the result of adults taking the time to lead and guide me in the right direction.”

Oakman’s father died when he was 6 and his mother died when he was 11.

“This community was able to comfort me, give me the resources and support me to make me the person I am today,” Oakman said.”I see this as an opportunity to give back to the community that raised me.”

He said he planned to start his new job in June.

Oakman said he had three goals for the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department: strengthen relationships with all members of the community to reduce crime, improve trust and recruit; continue to develop a diverse professional work force through transparency, officer training and career development; and improve efficiency through the use of technology and resource allocation.

Oakman, who grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, has served as deputy chief of the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department since 2017. He has been a member of that department for 29 years.

He commanded the Kansas City, Missouri, patrol bureau including six patrol divisions, the KCI airport division, special operations, traffic, social services, crisis intervention and detention services.

UG Administrator Doug Bach said the city has been working on selecting a new chief for about a year and a half.

“There are few roles in city government as integral in a city as the chief of police,” Mayor David Alvey said.

Oakman led community policing, youth engagement and other initiatives in Kansas City, Missouri, Bach said.

The other finalists were Rich Austin, chief of police of Milton, Georgia; Vince E. Davenport, associate deputy director of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Washington, D.C.; and Pamela Waldeck, deputy chief, Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The announcement was held at City Hall. The story is based on a Facebook video of the announcement at https://www.facebook.com/cityofkck/videos/463775044710066.

Storms are in the forecast for late tonight into Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Another round of storms is possible Saturday evening into Sunday, the weather service said.

A few storms have the potential to be strong to severe, with damaging winds and large hail the main hazards, according to the weather service.

Heavy rain and elevated stream levels are possible on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, the weather service said. From three-fourths to 1 inch of rain is in the forecast for Wyandotte County on Saturday night.

Rain is also possible next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Today, there may be increasing clouds with a high near 69, the weather service said. A west southwest wind of 8 to 10 mph will gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., followed by a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 54 with a south southwest of 6 mph becoming light and variable. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected.

Saturday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 72 with an east southeast wind of 10 to 14 mph, gusting as high as 23 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Saturday night, there is a 90 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm, according to the weather service. The low will be around 51 with an east southeast wind of 7 to 11 mph becoming north northeast after midnight. Between three-quarters and an inch of rain is possible.

Sunday, Mother’s Day, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m. The high will be near 60 with a north wind of 9 to 15 mph, gusting as high as 25 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 43, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 60, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 45, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 60, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a low of 45, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 60, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 45, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be sunny, with a high near 67, the weather service said.

For more weather information, visit www.weather.gov.

A traffic stop near 26th and Miami on Thursday afternoon resulted in an officer being dragged by a vehicle for about 200 feet.

According to a Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department spokesman, an individual who was being stopped took off and dragged the police officer.

It was mostly grass and not pavement or the officer’s injuries could have been worse. The officer was taken to the hospital with injuries to his leg, but the injuries were not serious, according to the spokesman.

The suspect is still at large.