KANSAS CITY FACT: IF KC NOVA REALLY WANTS TO BE EFFECTIVE THEY SHOULD MAKE CRIME AND HOMICIDE STATS EASILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ONLINE!!!

This week one of the most popular stories on this blog was an examination of Kansas City crime stats that nobody else in this town is doing.

First off . . . Again we need to emphasize that KCPD is being exceptionally helpful and forthright in how they reveal stats.

Here's more of what we're learning . . .

- The current UCR stats have been applied retroactively to all the homicide numbers of the blue sheet daily homicide analysis. This is important because it gives us an "apples to apples" comparison of Kansas City's homicide stats.

- There have been 2 deadly officer involved shootings this year ruled "justified" that are currently not counted on local homicide stats - There were 6 at this time last year. KCPD insiders say that other non-officer involved killings and "justified" homicides are also included in the current numbers but acknowledge that reporting of "justified" killings is a change to the blue sheet as we reported previously.

- Here's the most important word, KCPD Insiders stress: "The reduction in homicides is not a result of the KCPD hiding the stats." Of the many calls we got after our first report, that was the one fact that people wanted to emphasize.

- By that same token, when TKC asked if there is any stat that would reveal overall violent deaths in Kansas City despite the "justified" designation . . . The KCPD insider response was "I can't honestly answer that question." Again, the candid reply was appreciated and sometimes (not often) TKC can read between the lines. I'm not getting that number and we heard the only other person asking is one TV station and the long-gone newspaper journalist Christine Vendel.

Accordingly . . . After several conversations on this topic that is part of our ongoing EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE . . . Here's one of the conclusions we're offering . . .

KANSAS CITY NEEDS TO POST UP-TO-DATE HOMICIDE NUMBERS THAT INCLUDE VIOLENT DEATHS WITHIN CITY LIMITS THAT GO BEYOND UCR STANDARDS!!!

KCPD Insiders say they don't want media to use the "blue sheet" as an indicator of official crime numbers, but waiting for end of the year totals from The State that come in the Spring is simply unacceptable.

KC NOVA can do more than hand out t-shirts and fliers . . .

KANSAS CITY DESERVES MORE DETAILED AND OFFICIAL ONLINE HOMICIDE AND VIOLENT CRIME INFO THAN THE BLUE SHEET CURRENTLY OFFERS!!!

There is some good news on this front . . .

Behind the scenes, KCPD is touting an upcoming database that will categorize and list homicide and violent crime numbers. But there's no confirmation that the info will be posted online and freely available to the pubic.

Moreover . . . It's simply impossible to believe that Kansas City doesn't have a listing for ALL VIOLENT DEATHS IN KANSAS CITY that goes beyond UCR data. Rather than relying on media . . . An REAL ONLINE DATABASE BEYOND THE BLUE SHEET IS REQUIRED . . . REALLY, THE PUBLIC WOULD TRUST COMPUTER LANGUAGE FAR MORE THAN THE HYPE OF POLITICOS . . . If Kansas City elected officials are going to tout stats, they need to offer the public a real look and interaction with the numbers rather than asking voters to simply accept everything on faith.

Developing . . .