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Opinion column
by Murrel Bland
The good news for those who watch crime statistics in Kansas City, Kansas, is that the homicide rate has decreased from 58 during 2020 to 51 during 2021.
One of the more significant concerns of the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department is staffing. Maj. Dustin Dungan, who recently reported to the Midtown and West Patrol Police Advisory Committee, said the police force has 369 officers authorized but only has 316 serving now; there are 25 prospective officers in training.
Maj. Dungan said the Police Department hopes that a grant will be awarded to the department that will add license plate readers at various additional locations; presently there are about 10 such readers in Kansas City, Kansas.
Maj. Dungan had praise for Village West merchants who were very cooperative with police in apprehending shoplifters.
The West Patrol building at 1011 N. 80th Terrace has been remodeled and will be the site for the Advisory Committee meetings starting at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24.
In a related announcement, Police Chief Karl Oakman said the department will have a new cold case unit; Capt. Angela Garrison will lead the unit. Chief Oakman said there are about 285 such cases that deserve a fresh review. He said DNA and other such forensic testing may have not been available when the crime was committed.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is an advisory director of Business West.