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Leawood mayor proclaims National Police Week and Jewish American Heritage Month; local Jewish leader urges education and fighting antisemitism
Summary
On May 4 the Leawood City Council issued proclamations recognizing National Police Week and Jewish American Heritage Month. Paul Greenwood, of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau/AJC, accepted the Jewish Heritage proclamation and described JCRB's advocacy and education work.
Mayor Mark E. Elkins opened the May 4 meeting by reading a proclamation recognizing National Police Week and publicly saluting the service of local and national law enforcement.
The proclamation, which the mayor said notes 111 law enforcement deaths nationwide in 2025 and four in Kansas, invited the Leawood Police Department forward for recognition. Chief Robinson accepted the proclamation and the mayor thanked the department for its service.
Later the council adopted a second proclamation recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month. Mayor Elkins referenced the city's sister-city relationship with Gezer, Israel, and read language urging local institutions to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism to inform education and protections.
Paul Greenwood, introduced to the council as a board member of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau (American Jewish Committee), accepted the proclamation. "My name is Paul Greenwood... we are grateful for the longtime partnership that we've had with the City of Leawood," he said, and described JCRB's work to "advocate, educate, and connect," including trainings for local governments to combat antisemitism.
Greenwood noted that Jewish identity encompasses both religion and peoplehood and urged the city to use the month as an opportunity for community learning. He also provided a resource QR code for elected officials and invited further engagement from the council.
The council did not take formal action beyond issuing the proclamations. The proclamations will be entered into the meeting record and the council recognized department staff and community partners in attendance as part of the observances.
