The Kansas City Star
By Katie Moore
Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté said he plans to push for a statewide registry to identify police officers who have been terminated for misconduct or abuse of power.
While the registry is still “in the concept stages,” Forté said he has spoken to an elected official and plans to sit down to draft a proposal.
He did not say which elected official he had spoken with.
The community is asking for increased accountability,” he said. “It’s the perfect time to demonstrate that we know what they’re saying and not only talk about it, but take action.”
A national database of officers who have engaged in misconduct is managed by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training, but less than 50 agencies participate, according to the group’s website.
Eleven states, including Kansas, publish “integrity bulletins” detailing police officer investigations. Kansas’ bulletins detail incidents, but do not include the police department or the officers’ names.
A Missouri registry would help prevent officers who have engaged in misconduct from transferring to a different agency, Forté said.
“Throughout my 35-year career in law enforcement, I’ve seen too many officers be given the option to resign before they’re terminated and then they end up in law enforcement again,” he said.
He said he foresees reporting officers to the registry as being mandatory and said an appeals process would also be available.
In recent weeks, protesters have pushed for police reform in cities across the country following the May 25 death of George Floyd. A Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes. The officer has been charged with second-degree murder. Three other officers who were at the scene have also been charged.
In Kansas City, protesters have called for more transparency and accountability.
In response, the Kansas City Police Department last week announced it had secured funding for body cameras through community donors.
Numerous groups have long called on the department to equip its officers with the devices. In 2018, police took a step toward equipping officers with body-worn cameras when it began accepting bids to buy them. No action has been taken since then as police officials have grappled with video privacy and storage issues.
Additionally, outside agencies will now review every police shooting and major use-of-force complaint against officers in Kansas City, Mayor Quinton Lucas announced last week.
Officials in Kansas City, Kansas, announced on Monday the formation of a task force aimed at improving the relationship between police and the community.
(c)2020 The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.)