Missouri Governor Outlines Special Session Call with Kansas City Police and State Lawmakers

Saying that violent crime and homicides are escalating across Missouri, Governor Mike Parson traveled to Kansas City and Springfield on Monday to meet with local leaders and law enforcement officers about next week’s special session.

The governor was joined in Kansas City by state Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten and by Kansas City Police Chief Richard Smith, who notes there was another homicide while the roundtable meeting was about to begin. Kansas City has had 105 homicides in 2020, a 35 percent increase from last year.

Karsten says witness protection is essential to reducing Missouri’s growing homicide rates.

A key part of the governor’s January State of the State Address was one-million dollars in funding for witness protection. Despite bipartisan support in both chambers, the measure did not pass this year.