UPDATE, 12:30 p.m. | The Board of Police Commissioners meeting has resumed.
EARLIER | The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners meeting was paused Tuesday morning after a community member stood up and called for the resignation of Kansas City, Missouri, Police Chief Rick Smith.
According to a video feed of the meeting, officials paused the meeting after Rev. Vernon Howard of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference stood up and started to preach, which included a call for Smith’s resignation.
Howard's speech came after the conclusion of public comment, during which more than a dozen people spoke.
During Howard's speech, board member Don Wager called for the meeting to be adjourned.
It wasn’t immediately clear if or when commissioners would resume the public portion of the meeting. As of 11 a.m., the board was meeting in closed session.
A spokesperson for the department said the board "will handle what they can in closed or move to next session.”
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This is a developing story and may be updated.
