TKC EXCLUSIVE AND THE SATURDAY NIGHT PLAYIST!!! LEAVE KCI ALONE!!! FUNKY'S PLAN DOOMED TO CRASH!!!

I'd like to start off this post with my longtime contention that the KCPD is the best local law enforcement agency in Kansas City especially in contrast to all the suburban smokies who only live to racial profile and set up speed traps for TKC.

Nevertheless, Mayor Funky's plan for the KCPD to take over KCI security is simply a misguided effort.

Already a lot of folks have taken notice that the duties of Airport police aren't even close to what KCPD officers are confronted with . . . Airport cops go after lost bags, they're pretty much EMTs and a great deal of their job consists of helping when somebody falls down. Sadly, Yael Abouhalkah is so in the bag for Mayor Funkhouser that he resorts to using 9/11 scare tactics in order to back the so called money saving decision that's not going to save any money at all.

Furthermore, here are three important items that are part gossip and mostly fact when it comes to the proposed takeover:

A lot of folks are gossiping that one of the motivations for the proposed takeover is because of bad blood between the KCI Police Chief and KCPD Chief Corwin. Under their breath, critics of this deal claim that this is "empire building" on behalf of Chief Corwin and doesn't represent the best utilization of KCPD officers.

The sordid topic of coin: KCPD salaries are bigger than KCI cops . . . Few people have mentioned compensation in this debate. AIRPORT POLICE GET PAID FAR LESS THAN WHAT THE AVERAGE KCPD OFFICER TAKES HOME!!! So where will the so-called savings come from? Mainstream media does (quickly) mention that critics say this plan loots a lot of airport resources that will be subsequently put at the disposal of the KCPD off site.

Most importantly, there's little talk of the end result of this takeover. Remember that Kansas City doesn't completely run the KCPD. If the takeover goes through that means The State of Missouri will be running a Kansas City resource. I've heard that this fact stirs the City Council more than anything else.

In the final analysis, I'd like to simply point out:

THE AIRPORT IS NOT A HIGH CRIME AREA AND KANSAS CITY NEEDS MORE POLICE ON METRO STREETS NOT AS A PART OF A BUDGET CUTTING PLAN!!!



True to form, Mayor Funkhouser is backing this failure of a plan that has little foresight. Once again, his panicked budget cutting is proving to be a serious detriment to services provided to the people of Kansas City. A simple look at the details of this move would reveal that it does a disservice to visitors to KCI and KCPD officers who (I've heard) would much rather work against fighting crime than retrieving lost baggage. Instead, Mayor Funky is helping to assail the character and job duties of KCI police who have kept the place safe long after the attacks of 9/11 and during so many changes and upgrades in airport security.

There is a lot more to this story and I can't believe that I'm telling folks to check out Chris Stigall's program on 710 AM on Monday at 7:30 where KCI reps will hopefully be given a chance to tell their side of the story.



In the meantime, here is my playlist dedicated to airports, flying and all things aviation:

Jet Airliner - Steve Miller Band

Bomber - Motorhead

Leaving on a jet plane - Peter, Paul and Mary

Enola Gay - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Aces High - Iron Maiden

Astrud Gilberto - Fly me to the moon

Come Fly with Me - Michael Bublé

Fly by Night - Rush

Aeroplane - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Fly like and eagle - Steve Miller Band

In any event, thanks for flying (and reading) TKC this week. Have a safe and fun weekend!!!