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Mission Hills prepares for World Cup: police cancel leave, will use overtime; drone program to go online
Summary
City police expect heavy commitments during the World Cup (June 8–July 20), canceling leave and relying on overtime and mutual aid; the drone-as-first-responder program is expected to be operational in March with costs split 50-50 with Prairie Village for the first year.
Chief Eric McCullough briefed the Council that World Cup-related security planning has been ongoing for about a year and that police agencies across the region are preparing by amending schedules, canceling leave, and dedicating overtime to meet the event’s resource demands.
McCullough said teams are expected to arrive around June 8 and that the department is planning for June 8–July 20, with most leave canceled. He noted that patrol services for Mission Hills will continue as expected by using overtime and assistance from outside agencies. McCullough also reported that the vendor for the drone first-responder program expects to be on site in March; the contract will be amended so the city does not owe additional money until a full year of actual use has occurred and Prairie Village will split costs 50-50 with Mission Hills for the first year.
Mayor Andy Weed asked staff to be thoughtful about community engagement scheduling given the likely reduction in available police resources during the tournament window. Councilmembers and staff discussed timing for seasonal events such as the Mission Hills Street Fair and suggested scheduling major street closures or resource-intensive events before or after the World Cup if possible.
