KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Wednesday appointed a new group charged with finding ways for the city to respond to continuing violence, which has persisted even during a virtual shutdown because of the coronavirus.
The Public Safety Study Group will consider such topics as reducing homicides and gun violence, possible local control of the police force and improving relations between police and the community.
The deaths of two men on Tuesday night gave Kansas City 64 homicides this year, compared with 49 during the same period last year. Since the beginning of the year, Kansas City has recorded 191 nonfatal shootings, up from 151 last year, The Kansas City Star reported.
The study group includes elected officeholders and some who have worked in local law enforcement.
The group will have until Sept. 30 to present recommendations to Lucas. He would then introduce ordinances to the city council or legislative action to the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.
Also Wednesday, the city received a $3.6 million federal grant to fund 18 more officers who will work with federal prosecutors and other law enforcement to investigate and prosecute suspected gang activity, drug trafficking, and violent crimes.
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