KCKPD Peace Walk: Honoring Heroes, Reducing Crime

0:00Kansas City. Kansas Police Department is hiked for its 5th annual peacewalk this Saturday, spotlighting a steady plunge in violent crime while, paying tribute to two officers lost in the line of duty. Chief Carl Oakman kicked off his plan back in August 2021, and it's paying off big time. Last year, the city matched his lowest homicide count ever at 22. So far this year through early April, just three homicides, 50% less than last year and overall violent crime dropped 31%. Community ties are the real game changer here, with groups like youth ambassadors teaming up with cops across the state line. Their programs for 14 to 18-year-olds boast over 90% success in steering kids' clear of violence. The department runs football camps, academies, sports leagues, and even free drivers' ed where students have tipped off leads to crack cases. This walk honors officer Hunter Simonshik and Deputy Elijah Ming, both killed last year with families carrying a banner signed by kids from the school, with Simonshik red stories.

1:03Though also hand out a lifetime award to a crime fighting standout, keeping supports strong for victims and families, kicks off at 11 a.m. at 5th in Washington, rolls to 5th in parallel for food and vibes, register groups at keckpd.org. Parents like these prove unity drops the violence and builds safer blocks for good. From your city, powered by AI, this is Kansas News Today.