Skip to main content
February 23, 2023Kansas City, MO, United StatesPartnership and Engagement

HSI Kansas City recognizes Clay County Sheriff’s Office for outstanding partnership

Sheriff’s office earns 2023 HSI Agency Partnership Award for fostering cooperation between agencies

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City’s acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho presented his office’s 2023 Agency Partnership Award to Sheriff Will Akin, who accepted on behalf of the Clay County Missouri Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 10.

“I’d like to thank Clay County Missouri Sheriff’s Office and the professional men and women from both agencies for the strong partnership that exists between us,” said Cho. “This award is but a token of the gratitude our agency has for the variety of mission essential resources Clay County Missouri Sheriff’s Office provides throughout the year. Resources such as task force officers, subject matter experts, cross training and joint investigations — all of which empower both agencies to achieve our law enforcement goals and keep our community safe in a more efficient and effective manner.”

Each year, HSI Kansas City presents the partnership award to a group that fosters and facilitates cooperation between agencies. Such duties include successful negotiations and agreements with interagency partners; development of interagency programs and initiatives that enhance homeland security efforts; providing manpower, technical advice, assisting and training interagency partners; and supporting joint law enforcement initiatives to enhance homeland security efforts.

"Our partnership with HSI Kansas City has been instrumental in our efforts to combat human trafficking in Clay County," said Akin. "They're ready to assist and provide resources whenever we need their help on all kinds of investigations, and that relationship makes our community safer."

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 7,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

Learn more about the ongoing partnership between HSI and CCSO on Twitter @HSIKansasCity and @SheriffClayCo.

Updated: