Increased Safety for the River Market - Downtown Council of Kansas City

By Sean O’Byrne, Vice President, Downtown Council; Executive Director, Community Improvement Districts

Improving safety remains the number one priority among residents, business owners, and employees in the River Market. In response, the River Market Community Improvement District (RMCID) Safety Program is continuing its expanded security initiative, launched in January 2025, to provide additional overnight security presence throughout the neighborhood.

And it’s working. In a year over year comparison, crime in the River Market has been reduced by 37% from 2024 through the end of 2025.

Data Courtesy of the KCMO Police Department

Two contracted Titan Security officers are assigned exclusively to the River Market seven nights a week. They patrol neighborhood streets and monitor parking lots in clearly marked Titan vehicles between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. During daytime and evening hours, the familiar RMCID Ambassadors will continue to maintain a visible presence throughout the district, addressing quality-of-life concerns and assisting visitors, residents, and businesses.

In addition, through a $100,000 City of Kansas City, Missouri grant, RMCID has partnered with the Kansas City Police Department to fund off-duty police officers to patrol the neighborhood from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Residents, business owners, and property managers now have one dedicated phone number to call — (816) 421-5243 — for assistance with non-lethal incidents in the River Market at any time, day or night.

Community members are encouraged to call (816) 421-5243 if they witness suspicious activity, are involved in a crime, need to report a noise complaint, require a safety escort, are locked out of their apartment, or observe disorderly conduct, loitering (inside or outside buildings), or other nuisance behavior.

Together, these coordinated efforts are designed to provide increased visibility, faster response, and greater peace of mind for everyone who lives, works, and visits the River Market.