Peace Walk: KCK Police, community hit the pavement in fight for safer streets
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - On Saturday, April 12, dozens of residents, community leaders, and the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department participated in a Peace Walk as a sign of unity in the t effort to decrease crime.
KCKPD Chief Karl Oakman said roughly four years ago, police held the first KCKPD Community Peace Walk as a crime reduction strategy. “In 2024, we ended with 22 homicides. You know that is a 62% decrease from the first year we started this”.
People walked and biked for a sign and a solution.
“That partnership at the local, state and federal levels has brought about historic lows in violent crime here in Kansas City, Kansas. But more importantly, it’s brought these partnerships with the community,” said Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Tyrone Garner. “Crime and violence is not accepted or tolerated in Kansas City, Kansas, or Wyandotte County.”
Without those partnerships, leaders said the reduction in crime and violence would not be possible.
“This is an opportunity for the community to come together with police to share fellowship and discuss some of our successes as well as our challenges moving forward,” said Chief Oakman. “When we come together, we focus on them [criminals] and we rid them from our neighborhood.”
“To have a great Kansas City, Kansas, you must have a safe Kansas City, Kansas, and this is what it’s all about,” said Mayor Garner. “As mayor, I’m happy to see that message has taken off. We are seeing the data, the results; these partnerships are strong between the community and our public safety professionals.”
Chief Oakman hopes to hold this Peace Walk every April, indefinitely, to show the community they are a part of this effort just as much as police and city officials.
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