Missouri voters have once again passed a constitutional amendment requiring Kansas City to spend at least a quarter of its budget on police, up from 20% previously. The recent vote underscores the ongoing tension between Republicans at the state level, who are wary of potential cuts to police funding, and leaders of Kansas City, a city with a Black population of around 28%, who argue for local autonomy in deciding how to allocate tax dollars.
Republican state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer emphasized Missouri's support for law enforcement, stating, 'In Missouri, we defend our police. We don’t defund them.' Despite concerns, Kansas City officials have affirmed their commitment to maintaining the police department.
Kansas City stands out as the sole city in Missouri, and one of the largest in the U.S., without direct control over its police department. Instead, a state board oversees the department's operations and budget, a situation that local advocates like Gwen Grant, president of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, view as a significant issue of local governance.
Mayor Quinton Lucas hinted at the possibility of introducing a counter-amendment that advocates for local control across all communities. The recent vote marks a continuation of a historical struggle over police control in Missouri, dating back over a century.
Notably, the state's involvement in policing in St. Louis and Kansas City has a complex history, with shifts in control influenced by factors such as the Civil War, political corruption, and segregationist policies. Efforts to address these issues and promote racial and economic equity continue to be a priority for organizations like the Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity (MORE2).
The recent power struggle over police control in Kansas City traces back to 2021 when local leaders attempted to reallocate a portion of the police budget to social services and crime prevention programs. This move was met with opposition from GOP lawmakers in Jefferson City, who characterized it as an attempt to defund the police in a city grappling with high levels of violent crime.
