The Missouri House gave preliminary approval this week to a legislative proposal that would help the Kansas City Police Department attract and retain the best law enforcement personnel. With a first-round voice vote, House members approved legislation that allow the department to offer better pay to officers and the chief of police. HBs 640 & 729 are bills that remove the age requirement, allowing those under 60 years old to become the Chief of Police for Kansas City Police Department (KCPD). The bill also eliminates the currently authorized salary ceiling for the Kansas City police chief and allows the Board of Police Commissioners to establish a salary ceiling by resolution. The bills additionally eliminate the existing salary ceilings for police officers, computed according to rank, and stipulates the board’s usage of salary minimums as a base in pay ranges for officers crafting their comprehensive pay schedule program. Interim Chief of Police Scott Bagley said the possible…