Northland Gets a Seat on Kansas City Police Board

 Heather Hall Appointed to KCPD Board

Heather Hall

KANSAS CITY, MO — In a long-overdue move, Governor Mike Kehoe has appointed former councilwoman Heather Stewart Hall to the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners — giving the Northland a voice on the board that oversees the Kansas City Police Department.

Hall, a Northland resident and longtime advocate for public safety, brings not only her past experience on the City Council and Clay County Board of Election Commissioners, but also a much-needed geographic balance. For years, the Northland — home to more than 200,000 people — has been underrepresented in major city decisions, particularly under the administration of Mayor Quinton Lucas (known to critics as “Q-Ball”).

While police resources have been heavily concentrated in the city’s East and South sides, where crime rates have historically been higher, crime in the Northland has surged over the last six years. Residents report that some nights see as few as four patrol cars covering the entire region north of the river — an unsustainable and increasingly dangerous situation.

Hall’s appointment is a step toward restoring balance and safety in a part of the city that many feel has been ignored for too long. 

With Hall now seated on the board, many Northland residents are hopeful that she will push for a more equitable distribution of police resources. Her track record on City Council suggests she understands the frustrations of constituents who feel abandoned by city leadership. While shifting resources is always politically delicate — especially when city hall is focused elsewhere — Hall’s presence may at least force long-ignored issues in the Northland to the forefront. Whether that translates into more patrols and faster response times remains to be seen.