Kansas City Star Seyz Police Must Embrace Smear Campaign

In June a group of Kansas City ministers claimed police committed an "execution" and they had the video to back it up.

It turns out the video they shared didn't prove much and local media was horribly disappointed with their claims. 

The group of ministers who made the allegation were naively surprised to find out that police didn't want to work with them any longer.

Today the newspaper takes up their cause and, of course, blames police. 

Money line . . .

"They (KCPD) don’t have much practice in listening to critics instead of talking over and past them. And no doubt it’s far more pleasant to listen to the uninterrupted praise of the board of police commissioners, who only tell them they’re the best in the country and anyone who says otherwise is the enemy.

"But the first negative word can’t be the last word, and that’s where things stand right now: The first time police heard searing criticism from some of the Black pastors they’d been meeting with, they cut off most communication. They’ve also denied cutting off most communication. And did we mention that the point of the group was to improve communication?"

A couple of things . . .

How does the newspaper respond to criticism???

TKC isn't sure, they blocked us on Twitter about 7 years ago. 

More importantly . . . 

WHEN YOU CALL SOMEBODY A MURDERER IN PUBLIC AND DON'T HAVE THE PROOF TO BACK IT UP . . . DON'T EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE FRIENDLY CONVERSATION!!!

This seems like a simple rule that most adults would understand. It's applicable in almost every situation. 

However, clearly, this bit of etiquette concerning the local discourse needs to be clearly elucidated.

Read more behind the paywall that helps to obscure a print media fantasy land . . .

Kansas City police, now is the wrong time to give Black pastors the silent treatment

If the Kansas City Police Department is at all serious about building the trust with the community that's been missing for some time now, in order to curb violence and solve homicides, then its leaders are going to have to do something they haven't tried.

You decide . . .