Thankfully, the newspaper's power to control the agenda at both the state and local level is quickly fading. Take a look at their latest rant which contradicts efforts to keep the Guv from making appointments in the first place . . .
Editorial: Vacancies show the absurdity of letting the state control Kansas City police
The Kansas City Police Department is being held hostage to a political spitball fight between Gov. Eric Greitens and the state Senate. It's time for Kansas City leaders to launch an effort to end state control of the police department.
Given the caliber of the people who have been appointed to the board over many years, their thin understanding of law enforcement and policing, the silly fact that many of them look at board tenure as simply a resume enhancer, and the utter lack of oversight and accountability they provide, having a couple vacancies for a time won't affect the effectiveness of this operation at all.
ReplyDeleteAnd who would the Star recommend provide oversight and leadership of KCPD?
The same mayor and council that neglect infrastructure, utilities, code enforcement, public building maintenance, and pretty much every other function of city government?
Better to keep the dysfunction that's already there.
We already have council members trying to throw their weight around for special favors from the cops.
Excellent comment
DeleteWhat is absurd is this folly that the state controls KCPD. When you have a city passing ordinances that define duties and priorities for KCPD; When you have the city dictating police positions, budget and pay how the fuck can you hallucinate that the state is in charge of anything at KCPD?
ReplyDeleteWell this fits the KCPD narrative, the good bishop owns a three quarters of a million dollar home, he'll fit in just nicely with that crooked azz board.
ReplyDeleteNathan Garrett ain't doing to bad either with a $834,000 house
ReplyDeleteKansas City start your own police board and IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE STATE,OF MISSOURI DECISIONS IGNORE THEM. THE STATE LIKES A LITTLE RACKETEERING, HOLD YOUR TAX MONEY
ReplyDeleteI've always been against local control, but this is ridiculous. At what point do our elected leaders take a position? There has to be a move to local control. Crime spiraling out of control, a chief that lined his pockets with a half a million dollars, reports of federal investigations against the department and complete mismanagement of promotions. What else could the department do to prove that state control is antiquated and ineffective?
ReplyDeleteI saw the video of citizens speaking before the KCPD Commission and all the Commission could say was blah blah blah wonk wonk wonk.
ReplyDeletePretty much
DeleteWhat the fuck does a city hall full of crooks possibly know about reducing crime?
ReplyDeletePay attention KCPD Officers and retirement board. Pay attention to the $$$$ KCPD officers. Plus, all these so called "medical retirements" don't help our pension system. The money has to come from somewhere. Think about this KCPD officers.
ReplyDeleteRetired KCPD
don't really know anything about this except that the increase in violent crime means something need to change.
ReplyDeleteunfortunately, it should likely start at the top leadership level, which won't happen.