The Kansas City Public Safety Coalition is gathering community input to guide the search for a new police chief following Chief Stacey Graves’ resignation. They aim to appoint her successor by year’s end.
To facilitate feedback, the coalition is organizing five listening sessions, an online survey, and a Faith Leaders Roundtable. Melanie Mattes, a coalition representative, emphasizes the importance of incorporating diverse community voices in the feedback process for the Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting on November 17.
The search will consider both internal and external candidates, and a consultant will assist in evaluating the applicants. Additionally, business owners have expressed their views: Nicholas Grunauer highlights the progress made under Chief Graves, advocating for continuity and technological adaptability in the next chief, while Matt Shatto calls for prioritization of communication and preventative policing strategies.
Graves, who announced her retirement in July, wishes for her successor to continue fostering a progressive and trustworthy police department. The findings from the public input will be reviewed at the Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting in November.
