Law Enforcement Community Coordination Unit
Les Kerr, Law Enforcement Coordinator
Charles Evans Whittaker Courthouse
400 East 9th Street, Room 5510
Kansas City, MO 64106
Telephone: (816) 426-4197
Fax: (816) 426-4210
E-mail: Les.Kerr@usdoj.gov
The mission of the Law Enforcement Community Coordination (LECC) Unit is to help law enforcement and criminal justice agencies along with community-based efforts on any number of drug and violent crime issues. To make the best use of scarce resources, the district promotes coordination and cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement and community-based groups to work together to address challenges that face Missouri.
The primary function of the Law Enforcement Coordinator in the Kansas City office of the United States Attorney is outreach to the community and law enforcement agencies of the district. In the spirit of this mission, this office has specified several priority areas:
Training
The LECC has sponsored several training initiatives in the district. The LECC also is a participant in the annual Regional Law Enforcement Executives' Training presented by the Community Relations Service of the Department of Justice. We sponsor an annual training conference for all law enforcement in the district. This training is accredited by the Missouri Peace Officers Standards and Training commission. The office also provides speakers for community service organizations, panels, forums and seminars for local law enforcement training. Those agencies that need trainers, or are able to provide training or have ideas regarding training are encouraged to contact the LECC.
Outreach
The LECC sits on several committees and task forces in an effort to provide communication and outreach to the law enforcement community. Examples of some of the agencies that the U. S. Attorney's Office connects with via the LECC are: Project Safe Neighborhood, the Metropolitan Chief's Association, the Missouri Police Chief's Association, Northland Investigators Association, Synergy Service's Community Response Team, and the Missouri State Investigators Association.
Liaison
The LECC is often the conduit of information to and from the federal law enforcement community to state and municipal law enforcement. Agencies that are unsure where to find assistance in the federal system are encouraged to contact the Law Enforcement Coordinator.
Subcommittees
Through the formation of subcommittees in each of the district's five divisions, law enforcement agencies have the ability to coordinate efforts, share information, and receive geographic specific training on a wide range of topics.
Community
The LECC through the Law Enforcement Coordinator, Les Kerr, regularly meets with community groups to help resolve problems in the community.