TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! REACTION TO MASSIVE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT CUTS PROPOSED BY CITY MANAGER WAYNE CAUTHEN!!!
Recently, something really interesting turned up in my e-mail.
If you haven't seen it already, it might be worth it to check out a memo from City Manager Wayne Cauthen regarding KCPD budget cuts.
As usual, I'm keeping everything confidential . . . But the response was so informative and well thought out that it's far better than any kind of jokey ranting I could do . . . So, I'm keeping the name confidential but sharing most of the text of the e-mail and highlighting the stuff I think is really important:
Today some members of the KCPD were given copies of the letter that the city manager sent to the mayor regarding the budget. We were informed of some of the specifics that the city manager wanted the KCPD to adhere to in order to reduce expenses. They were: Lay off 200 (yes 200) officers and possibly reduce pay by 5% across the board.
I understand that we are in tough times, but last I checked the citizens of the city voted a few years ago to increase taxes to fund an additional 20 officers a year for 10 years. Of course the city never provided that funding (par for the course) but to now try to layoff officers does not seem to me to be a good move.
Of course the city manager has a contract and is getting his money and he even found over $140K to hire a former city councilman as his assistant, but hey someone has to suffer right? Maybe if he and the former mayor had not sold the city a bill of goods called the Power and Light district, things would not be so bad. But he must be worth his $200k plus job, after all the city council did extend his contract.
As an officer and as a citizen of KC I am frustrated and disheartened by these proposals. I know my fellow officers will continue to try to provide the most professional service possible no matter what the situation, but having less of us available to do it will mean some reduction in service performance no matter how hard we try.
I just think it is time for the mayor, city council and city manager to be specific and take their cases to the public. Be up front about the costs and consequences and let an informed citizenry have it's say. The city has been asking the KCPD to consolidate positions for several years. For the past 4 years the Chief has presented a business plan to the city that included some consolidation. In return he asked for the city to provide a business plan as well, they have failed to do so. I might point out the the KCPD employees approximately 2200 people. Only 8 are assigned to HR/benefits. The city work force is approximately 5000 people and requires 88 staff members to do their HR/benefits. I think I can see the problem, can anyone else?
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First of all, it's impossible not to be impressed by this letter . . . I only hope that more members of the KCPD can speak up regarding stupid proposed cuts.
Just to let everybody know where I stand:
LAST YEAR MURDERS IN KANSAS CITY WERE NEARLY RECORD BREAKING, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POLICE!!!
It is unconscionable to think that Kansas City is paying for the P&L District and JoCo party-goers but cutting costs when it comes to this town's security. It's an insane trade-off that no other metropolis would ever accept. Budget discussions are going to be hard, but with the number of murders in this town . . . There is no way Kansas City should dare think about cutting back on cops.
Good info.
ReplyDeleteDuring this recession, criminals will have to do their part in the recovery by suspending criminal activity. We all will appreciate the effort by criminals and thugs. All Kansas citians are will have to suffer during these trying times.
ReplyDeleteCouncilman Ford should take a bow for leading the council's efforts to extend the City Manager's contract for 4 years. Way to go Ed.
If the citizens of Kansas City realized how few police are on the streets during a given shift NOW, they would be up in arms about even suggesting any cutbacks.
ReplyDeleteAnd to think people actually want the city to have control over the police department.
This so-called-City Council and Mayor could fuck up a crow bar in a cornfield.
of course the citys council will find money for wayne the hell with the police.
ReplyDeletemaybe some nigger will shoot the city manager as he's leaving some p&l shithole...maybe bleed to death in a underground parking lot.
ReplyDeleteSo Cauthen is proposing some kind of reaction to the cuts? How is he going to react? Spit? Pull out his hair?
ReplyDelete(well that's what the headline says)
Wow. While I know it will never happen, what a gloriously stupid idea.
ReplyDeleteTony's previous post shows how the TIFC is bleeding money, but also shows how they can stop at least $3 million from vanishing. I suggest the KCPD look into this white collar crime scam and pay a visit to Dunn and H&R Block. Don't forget to bring handcuffs. Check it out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tonyskansascity.com/2009/01/tkc-exclusive-evidence-contradicts-h.html
you have to stop using all caps for your headlines, TKC. it's a bit much. Sure, this is big news but let's not go over the top.
ReplyDeleteAs for Cauthen, this will make him as popular as the Funk.
Good luck with that, Wayne!
If his budget goes through, I won't be driving 31st Street East, to get out to the Stadium side of town come the hot summer, I'll tell you that.
I agree 9:56. But all I can say is be careful what you wish for. I knew that when they said there would be layoffs they would not cut the positions you all thought should be cut. They are going to cut services and even public safety mainly to pay for the failed P&L. But the blame is not just with Cauthen. Didn't the mayor just push through the hiring of some community organziers or whatnot? Way to go but who is going to protect the organizers while they are out in the community?
ReplyDeleteLayoffs are coming bad news for all of Kansas City. I wish the police union had as much pull as the firefighters.
ReplyDeleteWhat police union?
ReplyDeleteDeb Hermann said that if it did not have to do with Public Health, Public Works, or PUBLIC SAFETY it was going to get cut. She evidently hasn't let the Cauthern know. Hey he lives in the Penthouse of the Library Lofts so he can't even see what is happening down at street level.
ReplyDeleteHow about not paying for OFF DUTY POLICE to have official cop cars for their off duty jobs of protecting bar owners. How about mnot letting the cars idle all day to keep the officer and his dog warm or cold depending on whether it is summer or winter,
More cops, less Cauthen.
ReplyDeleteThat is all.
where did you get that photo of the cop car? it looks like it's taken from the perspective of some kid on psychedelics who is about to be given a talking to from johnny law or perhaps even arrested but is too busy admiring the pretty colored strobes of the squad car to even care
ReplyDeleteI thought Sheriff Sharp was going to deploy deputies to work side by side with KCPD? At least that is what the porno guy said up here at a Candidate Forum last summer.
ReplyDeleteI guess he was lying like he was about John Bullard killing the dog.
Can't say I really care- not that I blame them, but cops are pretty useless here in Midtown. When Gihoully's was robbed by those three crazy dipshits who jacked like three bars in a week, I was there- the response time was about ten minutes for a location 1 block from KU Med. When my car was stolen, I reported it- when the cops found it they towed it, kept it for a week and tried to charge me 500 bucks (call your insurance guy- odds are he will tell you NOT to report your car stolen, but go out and look for it instead). Again, I don't blame them- but the 39th Street MA still forks out money to have one of those off-duty cops sit in the parking lot. If you want real protection, you'll have to pay for it- the rest is nowadays pretty much just for appearances.
ReplyDeleteWhy does anyone think that the politicos running things give a damn?
ReplyDeleteBuy a gun. Learn how to use it.
I hate to say it, but that's good advice.
ReplyDeleteWhen we protect ourselves. The police have an easier job of protecting all of us.
That's outstanding. We can return to the lawless wild west.
ReplyDeleteWhen are people in the US going to realize that "more guns!" is not the answer.
Who am I kidding? They'll never learn. It's too late.
Tony, would you take down the 8:09 racist post?
"When we protect ourselves. The police have an easier job of protecting all of us."
ReplyDeleteThe problem with this is that it becomes a feedback loop.
Today you buy a gun
tomorrow your neighbor buys a gun
a criminal now realizes that all victims are armed so he:
a) shoots first
b) organizes with friends so that when you pull out your weapon you find yourself surrounded
I'm an American, but having lived in Argentina during the economic collapse I can also attest to the fact that crime will become organized during an economic downturn..
So, if guns are the answer, I'm headed for another city.
No police today,
National Guard tomorrow...
Agreed, Anonymous (at 7:14)
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is that we need to properly fund the police. Arming ourselves isn't the answer. That's just an open invitation to vigilantism.
ReplyDeletelegalize drugs.. make the pushers get an honest living. Besides all the shoes and bling they buy are made overseas anyway, so who cares.
ReplyDeleteI'm in favor of supporting police so long as the police don't hire former Marine Trained Killers. They can't turn off the brainwashing and should never again be trusted with guns.
Look at the City's budget, 46 percent of the general fund budget is for the police department. 21 percent is the fire department. Of the 5470 city employees, 2150 are with the police department. Where else should cuts come from? Maybe the police should re-structure and not allow free cars and gas to its employees? The City could save 1.1 million by eliminating deputy directors in the departments. The City pays over 2 million to 14 department directors at $160,000 each. Reduntant. The City pays over $600,000 to the top five (out of 146) people in finance, over $680,000 to the top seven in human resources. Need to put information technology into general services and eliminate one $160,000 director, plus scale back that department along with human resources and finance. Basic services: fresh water, sewers, smooth roads, safe bridges, snow removal. Don't care about 311 or weekly recycling.
ReplyDeleteThis another of Cautherns games. he will get everyone pissed off and then give some speech about raising taxes. We voted two years ago for more money for more officers. Where did they spend that?
ReplyDelete2:08 has their cops and robbers game in his kinky brain. His info is CORRECT.
ReplyDeleteWith things the way they are a gun is the only safety you got particarly if you keep speed loads so you can hold off the criminal while waiting for the POLICE to arrive.
How about temporarily closing that ridiculous police academy that cost a motherload? That thing is bigger than most of the metro's high schools and they use about 1/10th of the space in there. Or how about requiring all sectors to use 2 man patrols instead of 1 man patrols to cut down on vehicles & gas. Or temporarily cutting out department overtime by bringing back comp time? There are so many options to streamline the police department budget without laying off officers.
ReplyDelete