Department of Community Safety

For immediate release: Friday, March 6, 2026

Kansas City has established a new Department of Community Safety, creating a coordinated, prevention-focused approach designed to strengthen public safety, improve accountability, and support long-term positive outcomes for residents.

With leadership from City Manager Mario Vasquez and support from Mayor Quinton Lucas and the City Council, the department will align prevention, rehabilitation, reentry, and intervention efforts under one structure to deliver stronger public safety outcomes citywide.

"We get better results when prevention, accountability, and rehabilitation work hand in hand," said City Manager Mario Vasquez. "This department strengthens that alignment and is about supporting people and families while building safer neighborhoods across Kansas City."

Diana Knapp, who was previously selected to lead the City's corrections and rehabilitation efforts, will serve as Director of Community Safety. Knapp brings more than three decades of experience across the criminal justice system, including leadership roles overseeing detention operations, behavioral health programs, and rehabilitation-focused initiatives designed to improve safety and support positive outcomes for individuals and families.

A Coordinated Approach to Community Safety

The Department of Community Safety will serve as a central hub connecting public safety agencies, municipal partners, and community organizations. Its work will include:

• Reentry and support services, including employment outreach, housing coordination, legal aid, and victim services

• Oversight of corrections and rehabilitation operations

• Strengthening and institutionalizing the Multidisciplinary Public Safety Task Force

• Centralized data tracking, reporting, and performance measurement

• Coordinated implementation and follow-up on properties associated with repeated safety concerns

• Development of pre-arrest and pre-plea intervention pathways in collaboration with Municipal Court and the City Prosecutor's Office

• Oversight of safe, secure, and humane custody operations

• Access to medical, mental health, and behavioral health services for individuals in custody

• Establishment of professional standards, training requirements, and accountability systems

The department does not replace or diminish the law enforcement responsibilities of the Kansas City Police Department. Instead, it strengthens coordination and accountability across the broader public safety ecosystem.

Supporting Rehabilitation and Reducing Recidivism

Kansas City is currently building a new detention facility. The Department of Community Safety will oversee custody operations within a broader framework that emphasizes rehabilitation, restorative justice, and successful reentry.

By positioning correctional functions alongside prevention and reentry services, the City is creating stronger pathways for accountability while reducing service duplication and improving resource efficiency.

Creating More Than 120 New Jobs

The Department of Community Safety is budgeted for 148 positions, with at least 120 new jobs to be created as part of its activation.

These positions will include:

• Corrections and rehabilitation professionals

• Community engagement and intervention staff

• Healthcare and behavioral health personnel

• Data and analytics specialists

• Administrative and fiscal support staff

• Training and professional standards roles

A Phased, Forward-Looking Approach

Kansas City is building the Department of Community Safety in phases to ensure responsible growth and long-term sustainability.

Phase 1 establishes the leadership structure, staffing model, resident supervision framework, and professional standards necessary to support current operations. Phase 2 will allow the department to scale thoughtfully alongside the City's expanded detention and rehabilitation facilities.

Built-In Oversight and Collaboration

To ensure transparency and cross-departmental alignment, a Joint Advisory Committee will convene quarterly to review progress on prevention, intervention, and restorative justice initiatives. The City Auditor will maintain responsibility for independent audits and cross-departmental accountability efforts.

Community engagement and outreach to external public safety partners will be an integrated component of the department's work.

The establishment of the Department of Community Safety reflects Kansas City's commitment to strengthening public safety through prevention, accountability, and rehabilitation working together to support safer neighborhoods.

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Media with questions may contact Jackson Overstreet with City Communications at [email protected] or [email protected].