KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Kansas City Police Department announced Thursday that two sergeants and seven detectives in its Crimes Against Children section have been suspended with pay while it investigates claims that some cases haven't been addressed in a timely manner.
The department said it launched an internal probe after Chief Darryl Forte became aware of issues in October.
"It is important that we do all that we can for all victims, especially those who cannot speak for themselves," Forte told the Kansas City Star.
The department says it is concerned some serious cases with vulnerable victims may not have been handled appropriately.
Police spokeswoman Kari Thompson declined to elaborate further on what prompted the investigation.
A commander, sergeant and other detectives with experience in Crimes Against Children cases will manage the section's caseload for now, the department said.
Crimes Against Children investigates cases in which children 16 years old or younger are victims of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, endangerment, parental kidnappings and custody violations. Its eight detectives handled about 1,000 cases in 2015, police said.
Kansas City's Fraternal Order of Police lodge said in a written statement that it "unequivocally supports" the nine officers.
"The FOP is confident that after a full investigation the record will reflect that these officers performed their duties satisfactorily and that any perceived delays in concluding particular investigations, which are inevitable in the overloaded criminal justice system, were attributable to the unit's high case load and low manpower," the statement said.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker issued a statement saying her office will assist police in investigating and submitting "these important cases."
"All those responsible for the welfare of our kids must examine where we come up short," she said. "In the end, our community must have absolute confidence that all of us - especially police and prosecutors - are doing everything possible, as quickly as possible, to protect our children from harm. I will stand for nothing less."