I know women living in the Waldo and Brookside areas are terribly anxious and upset right now about what's going on in their neighborhood. No one should have to live in fear in their own homes that they might be the next victim of a serial rapist. I just wanted those women to know that Kansas City police are not sitting idly by and letting this happen. We are devoting as much manpower as we can to this case (while still working thousands of other cases in the rest of the city).
Since the serial rapist resurfaced in mid-January, we have had 10 detectives devoted to this case full time tracking down the 286 tips we'd gotten up through last night (before the latest rape). Every single tip has been investigated. Our crime scene investigators and detectives have spent 12 hours and counting at the home of last night's victim - unusual for even a murder case - trying to find every shred of evidence they possibly can to identify and capture the suspect before he can hurt anyone else. We also spent considerable time at the scenes of the previous assaults. We worked with victims to develop a composite sketch of the suspect and have distributed that sketch as widely as we can.
We have conducted many additional patrols in Waldo and Brookside and have done numerous security surveys for residents who live there. (If you'd like a free security survey, call your patrol division's Community Interaction Officer.) Our officers have met with numerous neighborhood groups to tell them about the investigation.
We've also offered numerous, free, personal safety classes. In fact, one more is scheduled for this week from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Scottish Rite Temple at 1330 E. Linwood. This class will discuss personal safety at home and in public, self-defense techniques, protecting yourself from drug-facilitated sexual assaults, different types of weapons and a question-and-answer session. Crime prevention brochures also will be available.
With your help - the tip that cracks the case (the reward now stands at more than $6,000) - we can ensure justice is served to this despicable criminal and end the fear in this community.
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