Kansas City Star Quotes Activist 'Serial Killer' Accusation Against KCPD Officer

Again, we struggle to keep our opinion out of the mix . . . 

Today's word from a local activist is EXCEPTIONALLY CONTROVERSIAL and even in the context of political conversation seems off-limits. For most, this kind of talk would be over the line. 

To be fair, it's doubtful we'll see any legal action against the claim but here's our take so that we won't be accused of hiding our bias on this topic . . . 

KANSAS CITY STAR PLATFORMING ACCUSATORY RHETORIC AGAINST POLICE ISN'T JOURNALISM, IT'S ADVOCACY!!!

There are a few real life journalists who read our blog . . . And we're willing to stand corrected . . . But at a certain point, when the subject of a report begins to take an irresponsible tone . . . A thoughtful journalist might document the basics of what they're saying and direct even curious readers to more resources. In the digital age .  . . A direct hyperlink helps tell a story without becoming an accomplice. 

Of course the Star was well within their rights to include the quote . . .  

HOWEVER, these kind of street corner slurs don't seem befitting of the so-called "paper-of-record" in Kansas City.

Maybe, I'm being too much of a fuddy-duddy about this kind of thing . . . But at a certain point the desperate quest for clicks has to take second place to some semblance of civic responsibility. 

Nevertheless . . . Given that we've shared our concerns and provided all of the context that we can . . .

Here's a peek at the bombastic allegation and more info on the newspaper highlighting scathing allegations against KCPD . . .

“Blayne Newton is a serial killer,” said Steve Young, an organizer with Kansas City Law Enforcement Accountability Project or KC LEAP. “There are officers who don’t discharge their weapons their entire careers. He’s (Newton) now responsible for three deaths and two assaults that we know of.” It is not known how many Kansas City police officers on the job today have shot and killed more than one person. But in a 2015 Star investigation of police shootings showed that seven officers had been involved in two shootings each over the previous decade.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

KCPD officer who fatally shot 2 Friday killed unarmed man in 2020, accused of assaults

The Kansas City police officer who shot and killed two people Friday night was the same officer who fatally shot Donnie Sanders in 2020 and was accused of assaulting a pregnant woman and a teen in other cases.

A better report that doesn't include incendiary rhetoric . . .

KCPD officer in deadly shooting previously investigated twice

A Kansas City police officer involved in a deadly June shooting has been investigated previously in two cases, including another deadly shooting.

Related reading given that we noticed this post by way of another lesser local blog who also seems fond of tossing around the "serial killer" slur in the absence of evidence . . .

Why Rumors About Potential Serial Killers Can Be Dangerous - Grunge

Armchair detectives get invested in solving murders, but they don't have all the information. Here's why rumors about potential serial killers can be dangerous.

Developing . . .