KCPD: Reduced NYE celebratory gunfire + Quarterly Community Crime Meeting

By John Sharp

Following passage of state legislation designed to reduce celebratory and indiscriminate gunfire in Kansas City and all other cities in Missouri by making such sometimes fatal gunfire a serious state offense — and pleas by area elected and police officials not to engage in such dangerous and irresponsible behavior — the number of reported gunshots in KCMO during the evening of New Year’s Eve and the early morning hours of New Year’s Day was down significantly from the same time period a year ago.

What’s even better news is that the Kansas City Police Department reported no deaths or injuries from such gunfire this year from 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve to 6 a.m. New Year’s Day.

According to KCPD spokesperson Captain Jacob Becchina, this year the Department’s automated ShotSpotter system which can pinpoint the location of gunshots and record the number of shots fired that covers much of the central part of the city was activated 122 times, recording 697 rounds fired, compared to 187 activations recording 1,180 rounds fired last year during the same time period.

The number of 911 calls reporting shots fired for that time period was only 109 this holiday compared to 185 last year, Becchina said.

Community Crime Meeting

The South Patrol Division of the Kansas City Police Department will host a community crime meeting to discuss crime trends in south Kansas City and steps the public can take to help reduce crime at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 28, in the rear building of the South Patrol Police Campus, 9701 Marion Park Dr.

Major Kari Thompson, commander of KCPD’s Community Engagement Division, said the Department wants to make sure as many neighborhood leaders and residents and business owners as possible are aware of recent crime trends and steps they can take to reduce their chances of becoming victims.

Thompson said KCPD also wants to hear from community members about crime trends in their specific neighborhoods that the Department may not be fully aware of.