JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 The state of Missouri may be taking over 最新杏吧原创鈥 police department, but it鈥檚 only taking on a portion of the legal costs city police will face in the future.
The new law ushering in state control limits the amount the state is allowed to pay for liability claims at $2 million per fiscal year between Kansas City and 最新杏吧原创 鈥 the only two departments under state control.
But $1 million per year might only go so far in 最新杏吧原创, which has been on the hook for multiple large payouts in recent years while local officials controlled the police department.
For example, a 最新杏吧原创 judge last year awarded a former undercover 最新杏吧原创 police officer $23.5 million after his colleagues beat him up during a protest in 2017. Officials reached a $4.9 million settlement with 84 people after 鈥渒ettling鈥 arrests at the same protest.
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The lack of state funding has generated attention recently as this week for the state to contribute more to help cover millions in legal settlements.
鈥淲ithout more Missouri support, Kansas Citians will be paying more for less policing service at a time of ongoing public safety crises,鈥 Lucas said.
Earlier this week, the Kansas City mayor Kansas City鈥檚 CBS affiliate, the $1 million cap is 鈥渨oefully inadequate鈥 and that the Kansas City department鈥檚 $343 million police budget doesn鈥檛 include millions needed for payouts.
Lucas called the recent $14 million settlement with Ricky Kidd, who was wrongfully convicted of a double murder and served decades in prison, the largest in city history, according to KCTV.
Lucas said the KCPD should seek additional financial support in Jefferson City.
Sen. Steven Roberts Jr., D-最新杏吧原创, opposed the state takeover of the city police department but helped negotiate changes to the final product earlier this year.
He noted Thursday the $2 million limit is double the $1 million cap on state legal payouts previously in state law. But he said it鈥檚 still not enough.
鈥淚f the state wants to control local police departments, the state needs to pay the tab when those departments have problems,鈥 Roberts said Thursday.
A spokesperson for 最新杏吧原创 Board of Alderwoman President Megan Green also said the state should take more responsibility.
鈥淟ocal taxes shouldn鈥檛 pay for mistakes made under the state鈥檚 watch,鈥 spokesperson Yusuf Daneshyar said.
Fights over whether the state should cover 最新杏吧原创 police board legal costs aren鈥檛 new.
The city police department was under state control from 1861 until 2013, following a statewide vote in 2012 to turn the department over to local officials.
In 1999, the police board and officers sued the state alleging the attorney general had refused to represent them after they had been sued in their official capacities.
In 2005, the Missouri Supreme Court the state Legal Expense Fund covered the Board of Police Commissioners and its officers, and that the attorney general had to defend them when they are sued in their official capacities.
But the legal victory for the city of 最新杏吧原创 was short-lived.
After the ruling, that same year, legislators voted to limit state funds for police board legal reimbursement to $1 million per year.
Gov. Mike Kehoe talks about the state takeover of 最新杏吧原创 city's police department before signing the bill into law. Video courtesy of the Governor's office, edited by Jenna Jones.
