Accountability

Lee’s Summit police officers are trained at the Kansas City, Missouri Regional Police Academy in de-escalation and conflict resolution strategies. Once they are no longer in the academy, the receive training at least twice per year, along with additional online training, in de-escalation and conflict resolution techniques.

The use of force is extremely rare in all citizen contacts. Officers unfortunately must use force in situations such as arrest or protecting citizens from threats of violence. Officers are trained and policy mandates the minimal level of force necessary in such situations. Our policy is very detailed, and officers are trained in its application at least four times per year. Our use of force policy is nationally recognized through the Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation. Excessive force is prohibited. The department provides sophisticated, decision-based firearms training twice per year. Open training sessions are also offered as supplemental training. Regarding the use of deadly force, “officers are authorized to use lethal (deadly) force against another person when that officer believes that the action is in the defense of human life, including the officer’s own life, or in defense of any person in imminent danger of serious physical injury.” Officers are required to intervene in situations where they may witness another officer using an excessive amount of force.

Officers engage with our citizens through thousands of contacts each year. Whenever these contacts result in any type of physical force being used, an officer is required to submit a use-of-force report that is reviewed by every level of the officer’s chain of command. 

Officers are required to document every instance of a use of force. Every use of force report is examined and evaluated by every level of supervision, per policy. If a use of force results in injury, claimed or apparent, a use of force investigation is conducted. The investigation includes the testimony of all parties involved and any witnesses, review of any video or audio evidence, and comparison to policy. Use of force data is evaluated every year to help shape training. Our use of force information is collected annually as part of our accreditation through the Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation. CALEA assessors (who are external to our organization) review our information annually. CALEA assessors have repeatedly commented on the robust nature of the LSPD’s use of force reporting and investigation program.

Yes, LSPD General Order #100.01 states:

"Employees have a duty to intervene within their scope of authority and training
and notify appropriate supervisory authority if they observe another agency
employee or public safety associate engage in any unreasonable use of force, or if
they become aware of any violation of departmental policy, state/provincial or
federal law, or local ordinance. (1.2.10)"

Biased-based policing is prohibited in policy. The Lee’s Summit Police Department trains a minimum of twice per year on the topic of bias-based policing and implicit bias. We also aggressively recruit employees from all backgrounds. All employees hired are tested for bias as part of their psychological screening (mandated). We are not aware of any other type of organization that conducts such testing as part of its hiring process. In addition, supervisors conduct a quarterly review of all officer activity to identify any patterns of implicit bias or racial profiling.

Complaints against officers or staff are easy to file in Lee’s Summit. A link is provided on our webpage, or a complaint can be made via phone or through forms provided in our police lobby. LSPD accepts and investigates anonymous and staff-initiated complaints. The complaint system includes mandatory disposition reporting to the complainant. The Lee’s Summit Police Department conducts quarterly checks of every officer’s use of force, stop data, and complaints as part of our early intervention system. If a review reveals any patterns, supervision examines the circumstances to determine if any issues exist that need to be addressed. If any concern exists, the department has intervention programs that include training, counseling, discipline, and performance improvement programs (among others).

The Public Safety Advisory Board serves as a citizen committee that serves to 1) advise staff on methods and procedures to improve public relations and public image, 2) has the capability of initiating investigations regarding general public complaints against the Fire and Police Departments, 3) recommends improvements to the Fire and Police Departments to the City Council, 4) considers complaints related to traffic regulations; 5), receives reports on traffic activities, reviews and recommends traffic ordinances to the City Council; 6), reviews and studies fire prevention, fire safety, law enforcement and animal control ordinances for recommendation to the city manager and City Council.