The City Council of Kansas City swiftly approved two ordinances that reallocate a portion of the police department's budget to a new fund.
The council's approval came just hours after Mayor Quinton Lucas announced ordinances that will reallocate about $44 million of the police department's budget to focus on new strategies to address violent crime. It sets up potential negotiations between the city council and the Board of Police Commissioners over how to use the new fund.
Police Chief Rick Smith said he was disappointed that the mayor did not discuss the proposals with police officials before announcing them.
