Board passes plan to combine city and police health insurance

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Monday morning, the Kansas City police Board of commissioners passed the embattled plan to combine the city and police department health insurance.

But to a standing room only crowd, the fight isn't over.

Just within the hour, the board of commissioners approved the plan to combine the city and department's insurance plans and already a member of the local fraternal order of police says a lawsuit will be filed.

The crowd stood up and showed their support after a retired officer asked to speak, extremely upset that the wishes of many officers had been ignored. She argued the change in plans would cost more money.

The head of the board of commissioners argued the plan had to pass because it was good health care that allowed the department staff in charge of it to keep their jobs. He also argued it was the only way to give department members across the board a raise.

"Very simply, there would not be any raises without consolidation," Pat McInerney, the head of the KCPD Board of Commissioners, said. Lea Voss, a retired member of the department, immediately asked to speak to the board.

"There are other places to save money and you know it," she said. "You should be fighting to get us those raises anyway."

Raises with this plan, commissioners say, should average between $2,000 and $4,000 a year. McInerney also argued the department's representation on the governing board of the plan allows the department to re-examine the plan each year.

Representatives for The Fraternal Order of Police plan to release a statement soon.