RESOLUTION NO. 250435
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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas
RESOLUTION - Expressing the City Council’s desire that the Kansas City Police Department (“KCPD”) activate steady blue cruise lights on marked police vehicles to increase visibility and deter crime.
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WHEREAS, the public has called for increased law enforcement presence to promote public safety; and
WHEREAS, the visibility of law enforcement plays a critical role in deterring criminal activity and enhancing public safety; and
WHEREAS, marked police vehicles are intended to be visible to the public to signal law enforcement’s presence, deter crime, and increase public safety; and
WHEREAS, the use of steady blue cruise lights during routine patrol has been shown to reduce crime and reinforce continuous law enforcement presence in cities including but not limited to Baltimore, Maryland, Charlotte, North Carolina, Chicago, Illinois, Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the use of steady blue cruise lights aligns with public safety strategies aimed at preventing crime through environmental and psychological design; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief, marked KCPD vehicles are already equipped with steady blue cruise light technology, making this a low-cost measure to increase law enforcement’s visibility, deter crime, and enhance public safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That City Council expresses its desire that KCPD adopt a policy requiring the activation of steady blue cruise lights on marked police vehicles during routine patrols.
Section 2. That this request shall not be interpreted as requiring the activation of steady blue cruise lights while responding to calls for service or during traffic stops, undercover, or tactical or emergency operations in which visibility could compromise officer safety.
Section 3. That City Council expresses its desire that KCPD implement the steady blue cruise light policy no later than July 1, 2025.
Section 4. That City Council requests that the City Manager and the Mayor’s Office Director of Public Safety engage with KCPD after the implementation of the blue cruise light policy to assess its impact and effectiveness, and that KCPD provide a report with such findings and the results of all efforts taken pursuant to this resolution to City Council during business session no later than 90 days of the passage of this resolution.
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