Waldo Tower neighborhood calls on KCPD to address ‘crime wave,' 911 delays
Earlier this month, that shots were fired after multiple cars were broken into in the Waldo neighborhood.
Car break-ins turned violent in Kansas City's Waldo neighborhood
'Our neighborhood cannot afford to wait any longer for meaningful change; we need swift, decisive action to restore safety and trust,' Angie Lile, president of the WTNA, said in a statement sent out Saturday.
She said residents and business owners have expressed growing concerns about rising crime and challenges with emergency response times in the community.
This trend is reflected citywide, Lile said, with property crimes in Kansas City up 31% since 2019 and car thefts rising by 138% over the same period.
She said local businesses have been hit hard by this 'crime wave.'
'Business owners have reported a troubling pattern of armed teenagers targeting vehicles and threatening customers, and some have witnessed these incidents occurring in broad daylight,' Lile said.
She said the Waldo Area Business Association has publicly called for more support and resources to help businesses recover and protect themselves. This includes initiatives like the city's new 'Back to Business Fund,' which offers grants for security upgrades and repairs following property crimes.
Kansas City's 'Back to Business Fund' now accepting applications
Lile pointed out that the community has been dealing with a delayed police response when it comes to 911 calls, 'especially for property crimes.'
She said residents and business owners have expressed 'deep frustration' with the delayed emergency response times.
'Due to ongoing staffing shortages in the Kansas City Police Department – a result of retirements, recruitment challenges, and increased call volume – officers may be dispatched from distant parts of the city, causing longer wait times for critical incidents,' she said.
'In recent cases, residents reported waiting significant periods for police to arrive after violent events, further undermining confidence in public safety services.'
This is a topic FOX4 has covered for years:
Mayor Lucas to take action to address the speed of emergency services
KCPD recruits call takers amid 'unacceptable' 911 delays
Kansas City police response times slowest in south and Northland, data shows
Lile said the neighborhood association is pushing for the following changes:
Increased police presence and dedicated resources for the Waldo area, including more detectives focused on property crimes.
Continued investment in crime prevention measures, such as security grants and neighborhood watch programs.
Improved emergency response protocols and communication to ensure timely assistance for all residents and businesses.
Long-term solutions addressing the root causes of crime, including youth engagement, mental health resources and support for unhoused individuals.
The WTNA is calling on the KCPD, City Council and all relevant agencies to provide a clear and public timeline for the following:
Deployment of additional patrol units and detectives in the Waldo area within the next 60 days.
Implementation of improved emergency response protocols and a reduction in 911 response times, with monthly progress updates to the community.
Allocation of additional funding for security improvements for both residents and businesses, with grant application processes streamlined and communicated within the next 30 days.
Regular public safety meetings with city officials and law enforcement, beginning within the next month, to review progress, share data and address community concerns directly.
Lile said the WTNA has sent the statement to 6th District Council Members, the Mayor, state and house representatives, KCPD and the Waldo Area Business Association.
You can read the WTNA's full statement here. You can find the KCPD's 2019 annual report here and the 2023 report here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Yahoo
Former Kansas City educator charged with sex trafficking, accused of asking student for explicit photos
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A former Kansas City educator has been accused of trying to solicit nude images of a student who attended the school he taught at. Jonathan Newton has been charged with second-degree sexual trafficking of a child. Founder of Mean Mule Distilling Company dies in weekend motorcycle crash According to the probable cause statement, on March 27, 2025, a teenage victim and the teen's guardian went to the Kansas City Police Department to report an incident with the victim's former teacher. While at a relative's home in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 25, the victim was contacted by Newton – the victim's 'former school teacher aide' – on Snapchat. He allegedly asked the victim for explicit images, the probable cause reads. The victim did not provide any pictures but took screenshots of the conversation, which were shown to police, according to the probable cause statement. Additionally, the victim said Newton told him he was going to send his own explicit image to the teen. Police then called Newton on Snapchat to confirm it was indeed his account and placed the former teacher under an investigative arrest. GoFundMe created for grandmother killed in flash flood in Overland Park According to the probable cause statement, Newton admitted he had an inappropriate conversation with the victim on Snapchat. Newton told police he had met the 15-year-old victim while working at the school they both attended. Newton's arrest warrant does not allow him to be within 1,000 feet of Brookside Charter School in Kansas City, Missouri. FOX4 reached out to Brookside Charter School, and the superintendent confirmed that Newton worked for the school from July 2023 until February 2025. He was the 'Upper School Dean of Students.' The superintendent said he could not discuss the reason for Newton leaving the school. However, his employment ended more than a month before he allegedly asked a former student for explicit pictures. Newton is currently being held under house arrest on a $75,000 cash-only bond, according to the arrest warrant. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
Kansas City police search for missing 12-year-old girl
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Police Department is searching for a missing 12-year-old girl. De'Mariana Johnson was last seen near 37th Street and Askew Avenue on Tuesday at 1 a.m. According to police, she is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Police say she was wearing a white tank top, jean shorts, and black and white shoes with light-up soles. If you see De'Mariana, please immediately call 911, or the KCPD Missing Persons Unit at 816-234-5043. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Two men charged after shooting into downtown Kansas City apartment complex
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two people have been charged after a shooting late Friday night at an apartment near the Power & Light District. Sincere D. Miller and Kimoni Williams each face one count of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of armed criminal action. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV According to police, around 11:30 p.m. Friday, police were called to the apartments at 13th Street and Grand Boulevard and found two men holding firearms, identified as an AK-47 pistol and a 9mm handgun. According to the prosecutors' office, multiple witnesses heard sounds of shots and observed the men shooting their firearms toward a nearby apartment building while standing outside a vehicle. City camera footage showed them entering their vehicle and a green laser beam pointed at them prior to the shooting. Both suspects told police they heard gunshots from nearby blocks and observed the green laser beam on themselves and on one defendant's daughter, who was in the backseat. Feeling threatened, they began firing into the building, striking multiple occupied apartments. KCPD said no one inside was injured, but someone outside the building suffered non-life-threatening injuries, although the prosecutor's office said there were no injuries. 'I understand the defendants may have felt threatened, especially seeing their child targeted by a laser,' said Prosecutor Johnson. 'However, their response of allegedly firing blindly into an occupied apartment building endangered countless innocent lives. The defendants had clear alternatives: drive to safety, take cover, call police. Instead, they chose to discharge deadly weapons in a reckless manner that could have resulted in tragedy. While I have empathy for their fear in that moment, we will not tolerate this kind of dangerous decision-making with firearms.' Both suspects were seen in court on Monday at 1 p.m. They are being held on a cash-only $25,000 bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
