The leadership vacuum in Independence is pronounced: In this Kansas City suburb, there is no permanent police chief, its city manager is on the way out the door and the city’s incumbent mayor recently announced he will not seek a second term.
Let’s pause a minute to contemplate the impact such an unsteady ship could have on the quality of life in Missouri’s fifth largest city. This is no knock on the men and women who are in other important decision-making positions in Independence. But these leadership roles exist for a reason.
Not all is lost, though. Because of these openings or expected vacancies, Independence has a chance to chart a new history when it comes to public safety and change how it polices the city. And the opportunity is one that those in charge cannot afford to miss…