Goodbye Garden City, MO Police?!?!

For those who don't know him, Garden City, MO Chief of Police Thomas Alber is Former Marine, Retired Army Special Operations Officer, FBI-LEEDA, on the Executive Board of Directors Hope Haven Board of Directors and an active member of several South KC organizations . . .

In fact, his reputation is so impressive that some of his fans even devised an action figure in his honor . . .



We mention all of this to start off by contradicting any misconceptions about small town police forces which have proven vital against thwarting the spread of crime.

Accordingly, Chief Alber and his dept. confronted troubling news today . . .

The Garden City, Mo. Police Department announced Wednesday that Chief Thomas Alber was notified the City of Garden City was to lay off 100 percent of their police department effective immediately.

The department said no explanation was given and no plans to staff the police department beyond Chief Alber are in place.

“No further guidance was given for pending criminal cases or coverage of the city when the Chief is not on duty,” the department said on their Facebook page.

According to the police department’s website, the department currently has seven sworn officers and five civilian volunteers.

As of 2017 Garden City has a population of 1,629.

Check the links:

Fox4: Garden City, Missouri lays off entire police department

KMBC: Town south of Kansas City had 7 sworn officers, 5 civilian volunteers

KCTV5: Officers turn in badges after entire Garden City Police Department laid off

WDAF: Community wants answers after entire Garden City, Missouri police force laid off

Now . . .

From what we have seen of KCMO violence, what's clear is that it quickly spreads i.e. crooks have cars too and this decision leaves a local population defenseless as nearby South KC has been forced to confront rising crime over the past few years.

Developing . . .