2022 Annual Report
Clay County Sheriff’s Office, established 1822
Table of Contents
Sheriff’s Message
Mission, Vision, Values
Organizational Chart
Senior Commanders
Bicentennial
Staffing Stats
Budget
Detention Division
Emergency Management
Logistical Support Division
Investigations Division
Patrol Division
Support Services Division
Community Outreach
03
04
05
06
08
09
11
12
17
19
22
27
39
44
2
From the Sheriff
The year 2022 was an historic one for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office as we celebrated 200 years of serving our community. A tremendous amount has changed since Sheriff Shubael Allen, featured on the cover, held the office as the second sheriff of our county in the late 1820s. (We unfortunately do not have a picture of the first sheriff, John Harris.) We have grown from a Wild West county on America’s western-most frontier to a bustling part of the Kansas City metropolitan area with more than a quarter-million residents.
The Sheriff’s Office is the largest law enforcement agency in the Northland, and we aim to be a model. This annual report demonstrates the standards of accountability and transparency to which we hold ourselves. Budget, staffing, reported crimes, detention population, civil orders served and so much more are all here.
There was much to take pride in during 2022. The Traffic Safety Unit’s 133% increase in impaired driving arrests contributed to a 39% reduction in fatal traffic crashes. (p. 38) Our School Resource Deputies had a profound impact on the lives of students and staff in the North Kansas City School District. (pp. 36-37) The Sex Offender Registration and Enforcement Unit increased prosecutions of non-compliant sex offenders by 218%. (p. 26) We did unprecedented community outreach to warn about the deadly drug fentanyl. (p. 23) Our dispatchers answered 96.2% of all 911 calls within 20 seconds, exceeding the national standard. (p. 20) You’ll find all of this and much, much more within this report.
Sheriff Will Akin
3
Mission Statement
Embrace Change …
Create Value …
Inspire Others …
Vision Statement
Bring Sheriff’s Office and community together while serving with integrity and transparency.
Guiding
Values
Respect, Accountability, Courage, Honesty, Integrity and Service
4
Sheriff’s Office Organization
Bureau of Administration
Bureau of Operations
Human Resources
Fiscal Services
Undersheriff
Sheriff
Executive Assistant
Public
Relations
Emergency Management
Patrol�Division
Investigations Division
Logistical Support Division
Support Services Division
Detention Division
Patrol Shifts
Traffic Unit
School Resource Unit
CIT Unit
General Investigations
Property & Evidence
Crime Analysis
CCW and
SORE
Drug Squad
Dispatch
Drug Squad
Firearms Unit
Technology
Fleet Management
L.E. Resource Center
Professional Standards
Background Investigator
Accreditation
Civil Unit
Training Unit
Records Clerks & Office Manager
Booking
Housing
Classification
Court Security
Transportation Unit
5
Senior Command Staff
Undersheriff
LT. COL. JEFF SELF
MAJOR PHIL COFFER
Operations Bureau
MAJOR ROB HAYS
Fiscal Services
CAPTAIN AIMEE AGDERIAN
Emergency Management Division
DIRECTOR MELISSA EVANS
Administration Bureau
6
Senior Command Staff
Patrol Division
CAPTAIN JON BAZZANO
CAPTAIN RAY FRANKS
Logistical Support Division
CAPTAIN BRYAN SAPP
Investigations Division
CAPTAIN STEVE WILHELM
Support Services Division
CAPTAIN JOHN TEALE
Detention Division
7
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office celebrated 200 years of service with a banquet for employees on April 1. The event featured dinner, an historical overview of how far the Office has progressed, and a keynote speaker. It also recognized the three living past sheriffs of the county: Frank Maudlin, Bob Boydston, and Paul Vescovo.
Bicentennial Celebration
8
Staffing Breakdown by Division
As of Dec. 31, 2022, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office employed 211 people in six divisions.
* This includes Fiscal Services, Human Resources and Public Relations.
9
Staffing Stats
10
Budget
Commodities
3.0%
2022 Budget Allocation
Annual Budget by Year
2020
2021
2022
11
DETENTION DIVISION
12
Inmates booked and released
Inmates Booked
Inmates Released
287
2022
18.6%
2021
242
Average daily jail population
13
Tracked since May 1, 2022
Code Blues (Medical Issues)
A 54.8% increase over 2021 reports.
Detention Incident Reports
Tracked since May 1, 2022
Assaults on Staff
For the first time, Detention staff helped victims of abuse and harassment obtain emergency no-contact orders outside of business hours in 2022. Tracked since May 1, 2022.
After-hours ex-partes
Tracked since May 1, 2022
Code Greens (Fights)
Suicide attempts physically interrupted or plans thwarted after speaking with Detention staff. Tracked since May 1, 2022.
Suicides Prevented
664
19
89
48
80
135
14
Court Security Unit
The Court Security Unit provides security at the Clay County Circuit Court, and deputies serve as courtroom bailiffs.
6,287
Inmates transported to court. This is a 7.6% increase over 2021.
67,229
Total cases heard in court. This is a 4.2% decrease over 2021.
15
Transportation Unit
Inmates transported by category
The Transportation Unit is responsible for all inmate movement. They ensure inmates are where they need to be, when they need to be. In 2022, they took on extraditions after the Fugitive Apprehension Unit dissolved, as well as several other additional duties.
Penitentiary Transport – Transportation to and from state prisons
Metro Transfers - Local transfers, including adjoining counties
Writ/Return – State Department of Correction inmates picked up and returned on a court-ordered writ to appear in person in Clay County Court.
Mental Evaluation – Generally transported to St. Joseph or Kansas City per court order for an evaluation.
Doctor Appointment – Scheduled by jail medical staff to an outside area medical facility
Housed-Out Inmate – Transporting inmates that are housed out at local facilities per the Detention Center’s request. The Transportation Unit provided for initial housing plus court returns.
Municipal – New in 2022, transport of inmates from area municipalities
Out-of-State Extradition – Returning inmates outside of Missouri to stand trial in Clay County.
In-State-Extradition – Returning inmates inside Missouri to stand trial in Clay County
Juvenile – New it 2022, transport of juvenile defendants
16
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
17
Accomplishments
The Clay County Emergency Management Team is dedicated to providing resources while raising awareness and serving our community. The Clay County Emergency Management team educates and informs our community and community partners with information on the National Planning Frameworks: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery.
Weather Radio Distribution
Distributed 150 weather alert radios to seniors and other community members with functional challenges
Detention Center Drug Exercise
Led a tabletop exercise to help all staff prepare for potential exposure to harmful illicit drugs
School Preparation
Assisted Smithville School District with emergency preparations and conducted tabletop exercises with North Kansas City Schools administrators
Vaccine Clinics
Arranged for two voluntary COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinics in the Detention Center, as well as for Clay County employees
18
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT DIVISION
19
Communications Unit
Calls Received in Communications Center
Calls answered within 15 seconds
Calls answered within 20 seconds
95.3%
96.2%
911 Call Answering Times
20
Fall 2022
Police Facilities Design Group selected to design the Law Enforcement Resource Center
November 16, 2022
Police Facilities Design Group provides projected costs
2021
Property identified and contracted at 8801 Stillhouse Road in unincorporated Clay County
Early 2022
Site plan of building, ranges and roads completed
2022 throughout
Preliminary building space and floor plan design underway
November 30, 2022
County Commission approves funding for construction
Law Enforcement Resource Center
The Law Enforcement Resource Center will serve as a training facility for the Sheriff’s Office. It will include a covered firing range, classroom space for up to 50 people, a decision-based training area, tactical house and defensive tactics training room.
21
INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION
22
Investigations Division
Victim identified in cold case
Investigators took a major step forward in solving the Sheriff’s Office’s coldest case by identifying the victim whose skeletal remains were found in rural southeast Clay County in 1985. She was Gwendolyn Robinson, who had gone missing from Kansas City in 1983.
Robinson’s daughter approached Kansas City Police detectives in May 2022, who used a forensic sketch the Sheriff’s Office had gotten created in 2017 to identify her mother as the victim. DNA confirmed it.
With this new information, the General Investigations Unit started piecing together 40 years of history to determine who killed Gwendolyn.
Outreach to stop overdoses
As the deadly drug fentanyl made its way into the illegal narcotic supply in Clay County, Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force detectives faced a mounting number of overdose death cases.
The Task Force embarked on a public education effort to let the community know what fentanyl does, how little of it is lethal, what it looks like and what signs of use to look for.
This included six public forums with community partners including drug treatment centers and recovering addicts. Task Force members visited dozens of high schools to teach about the drug’s dangers and made numerous media appearances to inform the public.
23
Case Report Status
Status | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 to 2022 change |
Closed by Arrest | 406 | 520 | 28% |
Charges Filed, Pending Arrest | 15 | 19 | 27% |
Closed | 66 | 71 | 8% |
Exceptional Clearance | 3 | 6 | 100% |
Inactive | 162 | 123 | -24% |
No Crime Committed | 551 | 494 | -10% |
Prosecutor Declined | 22 | 19 | -14% |
Victim Declined Prosecution | 73 | 82 | 12% |
Open | 466 | 483 | 4% |
Referred to Drug Task Force | 55 | 64 | 16% |
Referred to Juvenile Court | 92 | 106 | 15% |
Referred to Other Agency | 203 | 181 | -11% |
TOTAL | 2,114 | 2,168 | 3% |
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Evidence Management
The Sheriff’s Office sent 293 items of evidence to crime labs for analysis in 2022:
* Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner kits collected following a sexual assault.
SANE Kits*
1%
DWI Blood Samples
8%
Drugs
54%
Firearms
20%
Fingerprints
3%
Electronics
1%
Items of evidence recovered and stored
Cases with evidence recovered
1,752
711
25
Registered sex offenders monitored
A 7.5% increase over 2021.
Sex offenders charged for failure to register
CCW permits renewed
Sex offender investigations
New CCW permits issued
460
179
A 43% increase over 2021.
A 218% increase over 2021.
35
485
A 29% decrease from 2021.
283
A 79% decrease from 2022.
Sex Offender Registration and Enforcement /
Concealed Carry Weapons Unit
26
PATROL DIVISION
27
Patrol
Area
Clay County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies police unincorporated areas of the County (in dark green). They also patrol several small municipalities (in light green), including:
Avondale
Birmingham
Excelsior Estates
Glenaire
Holt
Missouri City
28
Mosby
Oakwood
Oakwood Park
Prathersville
Randolph
Village of Oaks
Road Patrol
2,928 Traffic Citations
4,293 Non-traffic Citations
7,892 Traffic Stops
222 DWI Arrests
497 Traffic Crashes Worked
2,218 Criminal or Incident Reports
29
Reported Incidents
Incident Type | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 to 2022 change |
Aggravated Assault | 26 | 29 | 12% |
All Other Larceny | 46 | 38 | -17% |
All Other Offenses | 412 | 306 | -26% |
Arson | 3 | 0 | -100% |
Assist Other Agency | 146 | 143 | -2% |
Bad Checks | 1 | 1 | 0% |
Burglary / Breaking and Entering | 41 | 31 | -24% |
Crisis Intervention Team | 42 | 69 | 64% |
Civil Process | 11 | 42 | 282% |
Counterfeiting / Forgery | 0 | 3 | 300% |
Crash | 192 | 198 | 3% |
Credit Card / ATM Fraud | 15 | 12 | -20% |
Destruction / Damage / Vandalism of Property | 58 | 67 | 16% |
30
Reported Incidents Continued
Incident Type | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 to 2022 change |
Disorderly Conduct | 11 | 6 | -45% |
Dead Body | 28 | 21 | -25% |
Driving Under the Influence | 106 | 247 | 133% |
Drug / Narcotics Violations | 284 | 260 | -8% |
Drug Equipment Violations | 110 | 111 | 1% |
Failure to Register as a Sex Offender | 12 | 33 | 175% |
False Pretenses / Swindle / Confidence Game | 16 | 6 | -63% |
Family Offenses - Nonviolent | 46 | 54 | 17% |
Fondling | 5 | 9 | 80% |
Hacking / Computer Invasion | 1 | 1 | 0% |
Identity Theft | 15 | 12 | -20% |
Impersonation of a Law Enforcement Officer | 4 | 2 | -50% |
31
Reported Incidents Continued
Incident Type | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 to 2022 change |
Informational Report Only | 0 | 23 | 2,300% |
Intimidation | 0 | 8 | 8% |
Kidnapping / Abduction | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Liquor Law Violations | 9 | 7 | -22% |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 39 | 20 | -49% |
Murder | 2 | 0 | -100% |
Pursuit | 102 | 92 | -10% |
Rape | 4 | 6 | 50% |
Robbery | 3 | 3 | 0% |
Sex Offense - Enticement | 1 | 9 | 800% |
Shoplifting | 0 | 2 | 200% |
Simple Assault | 92 | 100 | 9% |
Sodomy | 2 | 2 | 0% |
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Reported Incidents Continued
Incident Type | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 to 2022 change |
Statutory Rape | 2 | 3 | 50% |
Stolen Property Offenses | 70 | 65 | -7% |
Theft from Building | 5 | 3 | -40% |
Theft from Motor Vehicle | 34 | 24 | -29% |
Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts / Accessories | 20 | 10 | -50% |
Tow-In | 73 | 58 | -21% |
Trespass | 3 | 12 | 300% |
Weapon Law Violation | 18 | 18 | 0% |
Wire Fraud | 5 | 1 | -80% |
TOTAL | 2,115 | 2,168 | 3% |
33
Canine Teams
652
Traffic stops by K9 handlers
220
K9 deployments
97
Arrests by K9 handlers
Two Canine Unit deputies and their canine partners retired in 2022. Two more deputies joined the unit with two new dogs. Rogers Sporting Goods donated the funds to purchase one of the dogs.
0
Canine apprehensions with a bite
34
In 2022, the Crisis Intervention Team Unit was composed of a C.I.T. deputy, a behavioral health clinician in partnership with Tri-County Mental Health, a critical incident response team K9 and her handler, and a supervisor.
Crisis Intervention Team Unit
146
CIT forms submitted by deputies to the Unit.
161
Follow-ups conducted with mental health consumers.
4
Members of the Sheriff’s Office recognized at the Tri-County CIT (Tri-CIT) award ceremony:
35
School Resource Unit
Trained all North Kansas City School District staff (5,000+) in active shooter response
918 school incident reports
35 elementary school students mentored
181 criminal or incident reports
The School Resource Unit provides 17 deputies to serve North Kansas City Schools, which is the second-largest school district in Missouri.
36
Choices
Deputies taught the Choices course at 13 elementary schools.
Clubs
Deputies started a law enforcement club at one elementary school and a girls’ empowerment group at a special education center.
Academy and Career
Deputies instructed the second annual Junior Police Academy during the summer for middle schoolers and led the Law Enforcement Career Path for high schoolers.
Giving
Deputies distributed board games during the holiday break and meals during summer break to families in need.
School Resource Unit continued
37
Traffic Safety Unit
DWI Arrests
The Unit made 203 DWI arrests. Deputy Keagon Reed (pictured at left with Sheriff Akin) made 151 of those, earning him recognition by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Crashes
The Unit investigated 268 crashes.
Traffic Complaints
Traffic Safety Deputies addressed 27 traffic complaints submitted by residents with additional enforcement.
Fatality Reduction
County fatality crashes dropped from 23 in 2021 to 14 in 2022, a 39% reduction. The Traffic Safety Unit formed in October 2021.
38
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
39
Civil Unit
Status | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 to 2022 change |
Affidavit | 54 | 51 | -6% |
Citation | 9 | 7 | -22% |
Child Protection Order | 206 | 200 | -3% |
Ex-Parte Full Order | 377 | 401 | 6% |
Standard Ex-Parte | 550 | 540 | -2% |
Execution | 1 | 0 | -100% |
Ex-Parte Local | 1,013 | 992 | -2% |
Ex-Parte Notice | 511 | 518 | 1% |
Ex-Parte Summons | 75 | 91 | 21% |
Garnishment | 2,014 | 2,077 | 3% |
Levy | 19 | 28 | 47% |
Motion to Modify Court Order | 4 | 7 | 75% |
Notice of Court Hearing | 71 | 52 | -27% |
Civil Service Definitions
Affidavit –
A written statement of facts voluntarily made. Usually to modify child support when a child comes of age.
Ex-Parte –
Orders for that can be granted without waiting for a response from the other side. Usually no-contact orders.
Execution –
The execution of a legal order not otherwise categorized herein.
Garnishment –
Served to employers to garnish the wages of an employee who has been court-ordered to pay a debt.
Levy -
The court-ordered seizure and sale of property to collect money for a debt.
40
Civil Unit Continued
Status | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 to 2022 change |
Nulla Bona | 3 | 1 | -67% |
Order, Misc. | 21 | 21 | 0% |
Order to Show Cause | 133 | 105 | -21% |
Petition for Child Support | 1 | 2 | 100% |
Probate | 56 | 71 | 27% |
Post Serve Mail | 50 | 46 | -8% |
Replevin | 10 | 10 | 0% |
Restitution | 460 | 641 | 39% |
Subpoena | 157 | 93 | -41% |
Summons | 2,478 | 2,276 | -8% |
Warrant | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Writ, Misc. | 6 | 7 | 17% |
TOTAL | 8,279 | 8,238 | -0.005% |
Civil Service Definitions
Nulla Bona –
A writ returned to indicate that no goods were obtained that can be used to satisfy a legal action for debt or damages.
Probate –
Orders from Probate Division, usually for guardianship or mental health treatment
Post Serve Mail –
A type of notice deputies can post at an address without making personal contact. A copy of the notice also is mailed to the address
Replevin –
An action to recover personal property that was unlawfully taken. Usually property purchased on a payment plan for which payments were not made.
Restitution –
Eviction
Subpoena –
An order to appear in court at a specified time and date after a court case has begun
Summons –
Similar to a subpoena – an order to appear in court – but at the beginning of a court case.
Writ –
A court order commanding the recipient to perform or cease a specified act.
41
Clerical Staff
Warrants Processed
Civil Orders Processed
-4.0%
+2.6%
723
Average monthly
warrant validations
Clerical staff members process all warrants and civil orders issued by Clay County Circuit Court.
42
Accreditation Progress
Policies reviewed and updated
Professional Standards Unit
The Sheriff’s Office began the three-year process of earning accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in October 2021. By the end of 2022:
The Professional Standards Unit is tasked with the objective and impartial fact-finding of complaints against employees. In 2022, the Unit reviewed:
106 out of 178
(59%)
106 out of 170
(62%)
CALEA standards met
Serious cases requiring investigation
15
15
Minor cases, remanded to division commanders for review
43
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
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Book and Puzzle Drive
The Sheriff’s Office conducted a first-of-its-kind paperback book and jigsaw puzzle drive for jail inmates in January. The community donated more than 7,000 books and nearly 500 puzzles – so much that they were shared with detention centers in three neighboring counties.
Shredding Event
In partnership with Verimore Bank, The Sheriff’s Office hosted a free community shredding event to help residents securely destroy sensitive documents.
National Night Out
The Annual National Night Out event with Liberty Police Department drew an estimated 1,000 people.
45
Citizens Academy
The Fall 2022 Citizens Academy had a record-breaking number of applicants. Dozens had to be put on a wait-list for the next class.
Combining the spring and fall classes, nearly 40 people graduated from the Citizens Academy in 2022.
Shop with a Sheriff
Deputies took 42 children from deserving families in the North Kansas City School District shopping for Christmas gifts for themselves and their families.
46
Trunk or Treat
The Second Annual Sheriff’s Office Trunk-or-Treat drew an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people and inspired stiff competition over which unit had the best display. Participants voted, and the Detention Division won.
Welcoming New Neighbors
Deputies joined with other community partners to welcome refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine at the North Kansas City YMCA.
Youth Outreach
Deputies visited numerous schools and engaged with scouting troops to teach children about the Sheriff’s Office.
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Clay County Sheriff’s Office
12 S. Water St.
Liberty, MO 64068
www.sheriffclayco.org
The 2022 Annual Report was produced by �Public Relations Manager Sarah Boyd