By Tye Grant, President & CEO, Police Foundation of Kansas City

Tye Grant is President of the Police Foundation of Kansas City and a retired Major with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. During his 26-year law enforcement career, he led KCPD’s Violent Crimes Division and held leadership roles in investigations, large-scale event security management, critical incident response, patrol, training, media relations, and tactical enforcement. He is passionate about strengthening Kansas City through innovation, collaboration, and strategic investments that support KCPD and the community it serves.

Joyful.

When Police Foundation of Kansas City Board Member and KC2026 President Mark Jorgensen was asked to describe Kansas City’s World Cup experience in one word, that was his answer.

Throughout the tournament, people talked about the energy, the crowds, and how much fun they were having. That was the goal.

Because people cannot fully enjoy an event unless they feel safe.

When FIFA came to Kansas City, visitors experienced a city that felt welcoming, organized, and prepared. Many said Kansas City “felt like home.”

That experience was made possible by years of planning from the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, city leaders, regional partners, and the Police Foundation of Kansas City.

 

Making Safety Visible

Safety and security guided KCPD’s planning from the beginning.

Chief Stacey Graves described the goal this way:

“We wanted people to feel safe wherever they were in Kansas City. Our vision was that visitors could turn in a full circle and see an officer nearby—visible, approachable, and ready to help.”

That presence became part of the experience. Officers answered questions, stopped for photos, and engaged with fans throughout the tournament. For many visitors, those positive interactions helped challenge stereotypes about law enforcement and replace them with a more personal, welcoming experience.

By making people feel safe, officers helped keep the focus where it belonged: on the celebration.

 

Planning Beyond the Matches

KCPD prepared for much more than six international matches.

The operation also included 19 days of Fan Fest, more than 10 fan rallies, four team base camps, two visiting team hotels, dignitary movements, transportation routes, and large public gatherings.

The scale included:

  • More than 135,000 scheduled hours supporting FIFA events
  • More than 8,000 miles of escorts
  • 14 international visiting dignitaries
  • Visitors from 148 countries
  • More than 36,000 fans in the Oranje Walk

At the same time, KCPD still served the broader Kansas City community every day.

 

Working Across 80+ Agencies

More than 80 law enforcement agencies assisted KCPD during FIFA.

That support allowed KCPD to manage tournament operations while continuing its regular responsibilities across the city.

The agencies worked from shared plans, clear roles, and coordinated communication. That preparation was especially important during large events like the Oranje Walk.

 

Equipping Officers for the Job

KCPD also needed the right equipment in place before visitors arrived.

Through donor support, including a significant partnership with QuikTrip Corporation, the Police Foundation of Kansas City funded:

  • Six armored vehicles for secure dignitary and VIP transport
  • Medical kits for officers deployed throughout the city
  • Specialized coal fire extinguishers
  • Two Utility Task Vehicles for major-event operations
  • Additional equipment identified during FIFA planning
  • New mobile command post provided through ARPA funding

The Foundation also supported technology that improved communication, information sharing, and situational awareness.

Drone technology helped monitor crowds, traffic, and activity around event areas. The donor-supported, information-sharing system, Peregrine helped KCPD and partner agencies make faster, better-informed decisions.

 

Measuring Success

The strongest sign of success was what visitors talked about. They talked about the matches, Fan Fest, the Oranje Walk, and the atmosphere across Kansas City. They also talked about how welcome they felt. Visitors were able to focus on having fun because the planning, personnel, equipment, and technology were already in place.

Major Abby Martinez, commander of KCPD’s Events and Special Projects Division, explained: “We knew people needed to feel safe before they could truly have fun. Hearing visitors talk about how much they were enjoying themselves told us we had accomplished what we set out to do. They felt safe, and that allowed them to fully experience everything Kansas City had to offer.”

 

What Remains

Kansas City’s World Cup preparation would not have been possible without support from donors.

Through the generosity of QuikTrip Corporation and other partners, the Police Foundation of Kansas City helped provide KCPD with the equipment, technology, and resources needed to create a safe experience for residents and visitors alike.

Those investments continue serving Kansas City today. They support daily operations, strengthen emergency response, and help prepare the city for what comes next.

Because everyone wants to feel safe and your support helps make that possible.