Training

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department is committed to both the safety of the community and of our officers. We believe training and culture are keys to achieving both. Recruits graduating from our academy receive in-depth use of force training and de-escalation techniques. That training is updated and reinforced each year during the department's mandatory, annual in-service trainings.

All officers in the State of Kansas are required to received 40 hours of training every year per Kansas State Statutes. Some of the specific trainings are mandated by the state while other hours are determined by the department. Trainings specifically required by the KCKPD include the following:

Implicit Bias

Implicit bias is a form of bias that occurs automatically and unintentionally, but nevertheless affects judgments, decisions, and behaviors. Simply stated, it is the tendency to make judgements based on prejudice and assumptions, rather than indisputable facts and data.

This course is designed to raise the awareness of their personal unconscious biases, understand how they can influence their behaviors and steps officers can take to prevent biases from leading to unequal treatment of members of the community, particularly with regard to the use of force.

Implicit bias training is required annually for all KCKPD officers.

Color of Law

The term "color of law" is used to describe an action that is done under the guise of following the law, while actually breaking the law. Rights that are protected by the color of law include the right to be free from discrimination, to vote, and to be free from unreasonable force. Simply stated, officers cannot abuse their position of authority by infringing on the rights of individuals.

The FBI is responsible for investigating color of law violations. Some of these violations include:

False arrest
Unlawful confiscation of property
Falsifying records
Use of cruel and unusual punishment during detainment
Failure to keep others from harm
Use of excessive force
Sexual assault
Deprivation of medical care
Deprivation of the right to vote
Discrimination

Taught by FBI agents, the Color of Law class provides officers with a deeper understanding of the law and the limits which it imposes on their authority when executing certain actions. It also outlines the consequences of violating the civil rights of community members.

This class is required annually for all officers.

De-Escalation

De-escalation training & techniques for police help resolve interactions between officers & the community peacefully. One of the biggest benefits of police de-escalation is reducing the need for use of force by police officers, as well as officer-involved shootings. It also greatly reduces the likelihood that officers will be hurt during a confrontation.

Officers are instructed to use persuasion, clear instructions and other techniques designed to calm agitated subjects. They are also trained to recognize other factors impacting a subjects ability to comply such as medical conditions, mental health issues, physical limitations, drug interactions, and language barriers.

This class is required annually for all officers.

The result of this rigorous training program is that use of force incidents are a rare occurrence within the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. In 2022, only .25% of all calls for service and 4.7% of arrests required a use of force. In each instance of a defensive action, the officer is required to notify his/her supervisor. The supervisor then reports on scene and initiates an investigation into the circumstances that surround the defensive action. The supervisor determines if general orders and policies have been followed and documents the entire investigation for further review by a captain. The captain then forwards it to the defensive action coordinators, along with instructors, for an additional review. If issues are noted an investigation is initiated, if not, the matter is considered closed.

In 2022, four complaints of excessive force were reported to Internal Affairs. Three were sustained, prompting discipline and retraining of all officers involved; one incident was unfounded.