The
original KCPOA Lodge was formed
in 1969. The links below may
be used to view a 1974 KCPOA
Manual and Membership Card courtesy
of retired Sergeant James E.
Martin. Kansas City Police Chief
Clarence Kelly utilized strong-arm
tactics to successfully thwart
unionization efforts by the
membership. Kelley attempted
to justify his anti-union stance
by declaring the efforts of
Kansas City Police Officers
to achieve official recognition
illegal under the existing law
of the era even though St. Louis
already had their own police
officers' association. The original
KCPOA Lodge was later dissolved.
The chronological history of
the formation of the original
KCPOA and Chief Kelly's opposition
to the organization is outlined
in the manual's history section,
never to be forgotten, casting
a dark shadow on the Clarence
Kelly legacy and forever tainting
his memory.
The
History of the first KCPOA,
dating from the Lodge's inception
in 1969, begins on page
#12 of the manual. This
manual has been placed within
the KCPOA digital archives
that our members may remember
the struggle of those who
have gone before us toward
the professionalization of
law enforcement in Kansas
City through the representation
of the officers, detectives,
and sergeants of the KCPD.
