Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Terry Zeigler announced on social media on Tuesday that there would be an increased enforcement effort in one area of Kansas City, Kansas.
The area is from 7th to 18th streets, Grandview Boulevard to Pacific Avenue, he said.
Zeigler said in this 1.2-square mile area, Kansas City, Kansas, experienced 80 of 286 drive-by shootings last year and 14 of 47 homicides last year.
He said police would address homicides, robberies, burglaries, gang activities, dope houses, street sales, blight issues and traffic safety in the area.
Traffic safety would be addressed through high visibility, prevention and education, he said. It is not about revenue generation, harassment or immigration, he said.
“We want to make Central Avenue a safe place for people to come and shop,” Zeigler said.
He said blight in the area would be addressed through community policing strategies and problem-solving strategies. He asked for the community’s help in the project, which is called Address Crime Together.
A video of Zeigler’s message can be viewed on the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department’s Facebook page.
I grew up right off Central on Valley. I took a drive down there a couple years ago and I’ll never go back. The neighborhood I grew up in had nice, well kept homes with nice lawns and lots of trees. Now it looks like the remnants of a war zone. Houses haven’t been kept up, some are purple and royal blue, decks are in disrepair and most of the beautiful old trees are long gone. Good luck with your project but in my opinion, it’s a waste of tax payers money.