Lucas proposes ordinance to use KCPD headquarters to fill detention needs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is proposing an ordinance with a potential solution to the city’s detention needs.

Lucas proposed an ordinance Monday that would allow the city to execute a contract to fund a downtown holding and booking facility on the eighth floor of the Kansas City Police Department headquarters.

According to Lucas’ office, he will introduce the ordinance on Wednesday, Sept. 11, and discuss it further at Tuesday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting. Lucas said the ordinance was filed in part because of this year’s surge in property crime.

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“As our community grapples with a surge in small business and residential break-ins, car thefts, street racing, and other property crimes and reckless behavior putting us all in danger, we must ensure criminals know there will be swift consequences,” Lucas said.

Until 2015, KCPD had operated a downtown holding and booking facility for 77 years.

Lucas said if the ordinance passes, it would be funded by the Public Safety Sales Tax Fund and would have a capacity for 144 individuals and 55 overnight beds. Lucas said 72 hours would be the maximum length of stay for each detainee.

The mayor’s office also said the proposal is separate from the municipal jail proposal, which is projected to have the capacity for 250 beds.