By John Sharp
The April 22 quarterly community anti-crime meeting at the South Patrol Police Campus showed the number of citywide homicides so far this year (43, at the time of the presentation) tied last year’s year to date number. There were 144 homicides during the entire year 2024, which was not very much below year to date numbers in 2023 (51). The year 2023 was a record setting year with 182 total homicides.
Major Kari Thompson, South Patrol commander, stressed in her remarks that the major contributing factor for the majority of homicides in the city this year were arguments and domestic violence. She said domestic violence cases are on the rise throughout KCMO and in South Patrol, and that most women who have been murdered in KCMO this year are victims of domestic violence.
Thompson said the KCPD is working with the Rose Brooks Center and other organizations that provide safe shelter and support services for victims of domestic violence and their children.
South Patrol will be rolling out a “Take Back the Block” program soon to interact more closely with residents of blocks where homicides have recently occurred.
She also noted that KCPD officers are trained to conduct lethality assessments for possible domestic violence victims to help get them prompt help and protection when the assessments indicate they could become victims of potentially deadly violence.
Thompson also pointed out that new Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson has assigned an assistant prosecutor to South Patrol who attended the meeting and was introduced to the audience which she said is fostering closer cooperation between her patrol division and the prosecutor’s office.
Please note:
Rose Brooks hosts a 24-hour crisis hotline, staffed by trained volunteers who can provide resources or simply listen to victims needing support: 816-861-6100. Victims in immediate danger should call 9-1-1.
To learn more about Rose Brooks’ free community education training sessions, visit rosebrooks.org.