TKC EXCLUSIVE AND BREAKING NEWS!!! KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT INSIDER: MANY TKC COMMENTERS MISINFORMED!!! THERE IS NO KCFD/KCPD RIVALRY!!!

This afternoon we had a conversation with police insiders regarding the blog that straightened out a few things for us . . .

Here is the most important fact that KCPD insiders relayed to us . . .

A KCPD Insider Said: "A lot of the comments are clearly trying to stir-up and exploit a situation that is not beneficial to either department or Kansas City. The employer in a shooting incident never comes into play when our department makes decisions. Some of your commenters need to know: What they're saying is unfairly creating a controversy where there is none and both departments and families involved are doing their best to heal from an unfortunate situation that is currently under investigation."

Another quote that's not for attribution but important nonetheless:

The Insider Continued: "We haven't mentioned the fire department at all because, in the end, this is a single shooting incident that has nothing to do with the the Fire Department Or the Police Department or any imagined rivalry."

That is the message from a KCPD Insiders that offers a lot more perspective than the "We Are Family" sentiments.

Basically . . . Police seem to be investigating this officer-involved shooting like any other.

In the aftermath . . . There seems to be very little fallout from confrontation between firefighters and police @ Truman immediately following the shooting incident. TKC learned of confirmation of the incident but we are also advised that since police were already on scene . . . There isn't going to be any documentation of the dust-up that has resonated in both departments.

From the Firefighter side . . . On record they are following the lead of KCFD Chief Berardi in mourning the loss and focusing on aiding the devastation of the family involved.

A Kansas City Insider close to the Firefighter family offered an exceptionally important insight . . .

"I'm a supporter of the police, always will be . . . But it's important not to ignore that Kansas City is sitting on a powder-keg after this shooting. Maybe the leaders on both of departments need to stay out of it and there should be some kind of special investigation. I haven't heard anything from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker - She made news just last week for prosecuting a police officer. It's also strange the Mayor is silent on the topic of two city employees in a deadly confrontation. Right now the people we look to in elected positions are being silent and that's the wrong strategy when leadership is desperately needed."

UPDATE: Nearly 48 hours after the fact here is the EVENING STATEMENT from Mayor Sly mostly hidden in a KCTV5 story:

Mayor Sly James said Monday that city officials are not jumping to conclusions and called it a tragic situation.

"We have two of our first responders involved in life-threatening situations that didn't turn out well," James said. "So at this point what we are trying to do is be respectful of the feelings of everyone involved and to get to the bottom of the facts."
James vowed "to support those who needed to be supported in any way and to do so without trying to find a way to blame ... one side or another."

Developing . . .