NewsKansas City Public Safety

Actions

KCPD officer memorial vandalized by anti-law enforcement demonstrators

KCPD HQ also spray painted with obscenities
EdLcEwQWsAAHBLw.jpeg
Posted
and last updated

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Demonstrators vandalized the entrance to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department Headquarters and a police memorial to officers who died in the line of duty Friday night downtown.

Obscenities were spray painted across the doors and on the base of a statue dedicated to slain officers during the fourth hour of a protest in opposition to Operation LeGend, a Department of Justice initiative to involve federal agents in violent crimes investigations in KCMO.

Organizers also called for defunding KCPD by 50% and investing the money in housing, health care and education, but it’s unclear if the Sunrise Movement Kansas City, which sent a media advisory about joining forces with other Black organizations for the planned protest at 6 p.m.

The gathering had been relatively peaceful aside from a few suspected fireworks that were ignited shortly after 9:30 p.m., but KCPD officers kept their distance or stayed inside for the most part.

Protesters also chanted, urging Chief of Police Rick Smith to resign.

According to KCPD, several of the approximately 150 protesters were arrested for property damage or assaulting an officer.

An unknown numbers of officers suffered minor injuries, while one protester was hurt while running away when they tripped and fell, according to KCPD.

The property damage occurred around 10:30 p.m. and police decked out in riot gear emerged shortly after and begin moving demonstrators from KCPD Headquarters.