KANSAS CITY POLICE CONFRONT CRIME FIGHTER ALONZO WASHINGTON OVER NAMING HOMICIDE VICTIMS: CENSORSHIP OR FREEDOM ON INFORMATION?!?!



Here's the situation:

Alonzo Washington has garnered a massive social media network of fans, friends and fellow tipsters who want to help share info in the fight against KCMO crime.

As breaking news occurs, Mr. Washington shares the deets in real time and isn't afraid to name names.



However, here's a recent exchange that merits mention.

This week police chided Mr. Washington for his social media sharing:

"Please wait until police release the name of the victims in homicide cases before you share them. Police will not name victims until family members have been notified. No family member should have to learn of their loved one's death on social media"

Mr. Washington's most poignant response in several FB messages about the case . . .

"KCPD has time to tweet me about the content of my tweets. THE VICTIM was killed near 53rd and Swope Parkway last night. The news did Not cover it much or show the victim’s picture. I’m doing it to try to get tips in the case."

A few things to consider . . .

Rules on naming homicides victims are not policy or law but custom and have evolved because media companies have been sued for causing emotional distress in their broadcasts So far, the case law on social media is vague and offers little direction.

It's always important to monitor law enforcement giving directives on social media use.

Public support from his tipster network seems to favor Mr. Washington and he has vowed to keep his followers informed.

The important fact to remember in all of this is that both KCPD & Alonzo Washington encourage locals to come forward and share info in the fight against KCMO crime as the homicide count continues to spike.

Developing . . .

Comments

  1. I thin the relationship between police media and Alonzo has always been tense and it will stay that way. which is probably better for both parties.

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  2. Alonzo is a hard worker and actually gives a damn. Good for him. We need many more like him.

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  3. Great comedy

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  4. I want alonzo to keep doing what he is doing. Not many willing to stand up against crime. I think hI'm asking for tips is a good thing.

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  5. Alonzo is a lot smarter than the cops. He does actual police work. The KCPD uses cameras to do their job for them. If it wasn’t caught by the camera, they don’t investigate at all.

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  6. As long as Jean Petersucker Baker is the prosecutor, it doesn’t matter whether crimes are solved or not. Jean Petersucker Baker is the criminal’s best friend

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  7. The more tips, the better. Hope they both keep it up.

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  8. All you above that think it is all ok to splash a victim's name all over everywhere before the family knows are the ones who will go batshit crazy if it happenes to you.

    Alonzo is a fucking joke. Police and state need to investigate him and make public what his game really is.

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  9. @11:21 - Did you just arrive in Kansas City. Alonzo has been doing this for 20 years. Do you think he hasn't been investigated. If they had something on him, they would have done something by now. Please do you research before you post a comment because you sound stupid.

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  10. ^^^ Actually, @11:21 makes a good point. People wait until the police inform the family for GOOD REASON. Asking for tips is one thing but causing families suffering is not free speech. I looked closely and noticed that even TKC redacted the victim's name from the post.

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  11. The two Barney Fifes from the Bolivar Mo's Hospital Room Search Squad can always come up to KC and solve crimes (just a long as the culprit has stage 4 cancer and is hooked up to a medicine bottle).

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    1. The so-called Barney Fifes were simply following the hospital’s protocol (which every hospital follows). If the media had taken time to get all the facts they would have learned that the issue was not that the patient was using a medical cannabis product, it was that he had not relinquished the medicine to a nurse upon checking in to the facility. If you would like to check with any hospital you should find the same policy in place. Many patients prefer to bring in their own medication so as not to be charged for it by the hospital and hospitals permit this but do require that any and all medications be presented to the nurse at time of check in. But the facts wouldn’t have made nearly as sensational a story as suggesting police brutality against a dying cancer patient.

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  12. Hey Lucas. Why are you taking about Racial Justice without addressing the single most significant issue in KCMO today?
    We are on track to exceed 200 murders in the urban core this year and less than half of these murderers are caught and convicted.

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  13. 11:28 Alonzo is a lowlife punk same as you it appears. What has he done? Nothing, he throws things around out there but personally he has done nothing and deserves nothing. Yes he should be looked into but since he is black nothing will become of it.

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  14. Wait until the family of a victim sues Alonzo for what little money he has. Pain and suffering.

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