‘This is enraging’: City emails reveal tensions regarding police staffing and sideshows

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On Friday, Aug. 2, Morgan Wallen played a show at Arrowhead Stadium. It was a concert packed with country music fans and almost every member of KD’s traffic division.

It’s a discovery KCTV5 made by requesting emails from city leaders regarding sideshows and police staffing.

That Friday night at 10:03, City Manager Brian Platt questioned a police captain. “Where’s the traffic unit tonight?” Platt said in an email.

KD Captain Lionel Colón responds:

“Friday evening August 2nd, Arrowhead Stadium hosted the Morgan Wallen concert. This required thirty (30) Traffic Division to provide . Events at Arrowhead routinely require the entire Traffic Division but for the ten percent (10%) exception for allowed time off.”

Platt sends off an email to Mayor Quinton Lucas and Chief of Staff, Reid Day.

“This is enraging”

READ MORE: Kansas City’s sideshow problem: What happens when you call police for help?

A second email is sent to council in the 4th district, Eric Bunch and Crispin Rea.

“See below, TLDR, KD didn’t have enough officers on patrol Friday night because of an event at Arrowhead. I’m sure this happens a lot more than we know”

Mayor Quinton Lucas recently discussed staffing concerns for special events like Arrowhead.

“If every traffic officer in Kansas City is at Arrowhead Stadium? If every on-duty traffic officer is at Arrowhead during the game, what does that mean on a Sunday night or Monday night, when we have Kansas Citians calling 911?’ questioned Lucas.

The city is suggesting partnerships with other departments, especially the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

Staffing concerns

Emails also reveal tensions regarding current policy that allows police officers to moonlight while the city struggles with staffing.

“My primary question at this point is why we would prioritize off-duty concert details over actual patrol posts?” writes Platt.

KCTV5 recently asked Mayor Lucas about moonlighting as well.

“I think we do need to make sure we ensure that the city is safe,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas.

KD is currently down 325 sworn officers or 23% of the workforce. Forty people are currently enrolled in the police academy. Recruits are expected to outpace retirements.

In the short term, mandatory overtime has been suggested by the city manager and backed by the mayor.

The police department is managed by a police board of commissioners and does not answer to the city. So, mandatory overtime remains an idea.

The challenge with sideshows

Police privately express numerous challenges with traffic control beyond staffing issues.

KD Captain Lionel Colón writes about the increased risk of disciplinary action and civil and criminal liability if police intervene. He also writes about the lack of jail space.

“To be completely transparent, bad actors are fully aware and exploit both the presence of constraints upon police and the absence of a reliable incarceration mechanism,” writes Colón.

Another email string references a Kansas City business refusing to cooperate with police and sign tresing complaints.

“I believe they are scared of retaliation for cooperating”

New strategies for sideshows

One email dated August 2nd reveals new strategies for police.

There’s now an “intelligence analyst” assigned to street racing. Police are analyzing videos from traffic cameras and social media to send citations in the mail.

The email references a new letter they’ll send to ed owners identified by license plates.

It warns people to respond or face consequences.

“This could result in a warrant being issued for your arrest and/or an impound order being placed on the vehicle. Thank you in advance for cooperating in regard to this matter.”

You can read the full draft letter here.

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