Rising Violence & Fewer Cops Confront Kansas City After Verdict

Like it or not, and despite mainstream media denial, there are CONSEQUENCES for every resident of this cowtown following a HISTORIC guilty verdict of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action against a Kansas City police detective.

Mainly . . .

LOCAL INSIDERS & EXPERTS WARN AGAINST WORSENING VIOLENCE ON LOCAL STREETS AND FEWER COPS TO CONFRONT THE DEADLY TREND!!!

Some suggest that "de-policing" push back will take hold . . . 

For those who don't know of this phenomena, here's a definition: 

De-policing is a term for police disengaging from active police work, generally as a reaction to external scrutiny or negative publicity. De-policing represents a de facto police strike, in which the police withdraw an aspect of their crime prevention services. It is a practical police protest at perceived political interference in their day-to-day task of policing.

That's a controversial suggestion and law enforcement officials object to it. 

We don't blame them.

The Kansas City Police Department is one of the best in the nation and, real talk, we don't doubt or question their professionalism and/or commitment to their job even in the aftermath of controversy and a stunning court verdict. 

Here's a more likely scenario . . .

Insiders advise us to look at the data and draw conclusions: Recent anti-police protest, political opposition and cultural criticism CORRESPOND with an unprecedented uptick in retirements and departures from the Kansas City Police Department. This verdict is likely to aggravate that dangerous trend. 

Here's the word . . .

"The police aren't going to come out and say it. And we all know they're going to do their jobs as best as they can . . . But all you have to do is look at the numbers. They're retiring in droves, many of them are taking desk jobs and more than a few are just leaving. NOBODY IS DENYING THAT. In fact, the people who care about the department are raising the alarm over it."

To be fair, Mayor Q believes that better police recruiting will solve the crisis.

“It was hard yesterday, hard today, it’ll be hard tomorrow, that’s why we look to recruit the most talented police officers in America,” he said. “I would encourage any officer who has concerns with this decision, or at least their role in law enforcement, the city of Kansas City still wants you working here, we still appreciate you, but we want to make sure that yes, we will still always follow the court's decisions as well.”

Nevertheless . . .

Here's an insider note about the future . . . 

"Some time in the not too distant future we're going to see police staffing become an even worse crisis and this verdict is the cause for it. Plain and simple, the police are angry about it. Maybe not all of them, just every single one I've talked to . . . It's disheartening, insulting and a slap in the face for many officers to be portrayed in this light when they put their lives on the line to protect people every day."

Here at TKC we've attempted to offer balance but we feel this post-trial quote deserves to be highlighted in support of police . . . 

"This verdict is the end result of constant political criticism and confrontation from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker & KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas. It's just that simple. The officer shouldn't have been indicted and our mayor shouldn't be trying to loot money from police for his own private slush fund. It's only in this kind of anti-police environment where a mistaken verdict like this happens." 

 A final word of warning . . . 

"This is our Detroit moment. This might be a point where we look back and see where things started going SERIOUSLY wrong for Kansas City. This is where some people might decide that having elected leaders who oppose public safety outright isn't the right course for our community."

You decide . . .