PRESS RELEASE:
The Kansas City Police Athletic League (PAL) Center will get a big makeover Saturday thanks to about 150 volunteers from Honeywell International.
Honeywell is partnering with the Christmas in October organization to make repairs to the PAL Center at 1801 White Ave. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24. They will repair restrooms, build a concession stand, landscape and improve drainage, make the steps more visible and add railings.
“These repairs are much-needed, and we really appreciate all the people from Honeywell who are coming out to make them,” said Capt. Rex Tarwater, commander of KCPD’s Youth Services Unit.
The PAL Center was constructed in 1960 for the St. Paul School of Theology. The School later sold it to the City, which used it as a community center. When police leased the building in the late 1990s, it was vacant and about to be demolished. PAL raised donations to repair the roof, gym floor and some other items, but a lot of work still remains.
The mission of PAL is to offer youth the opportunity to interact with police officers in a positive setting while participating in cultural, mentoring and sports programs, with the main emphasis placed on academics. At the 1801 White PAL Center, inner-city children participate in everything from tutoring to basketball to boxing to computer classes, all for little to no cost. PAL is a nonprofit organization supervised by KCPD officers.
Honeywell volunteers are part of the company’s community outreach initiative, Honeywell Hometown Solutions. Hometown Solutions focuses on four societal needs that align with Honeywell’s heritage: Family Safety and Security; Housing and Shelter; Science and Math Education, and Habitat and Conservation.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Victim of homicide at 3200 Linwood identified
At about 11:40 a.m. yesterday, April 22, officers were called to 3200 Linwood on a shooting. They found 22-year-old Christopher J. Harris of Grandview, Mo., dead inside the apartment building. Another shooting victim soon turned up at a local hospital, and police think the cases are related. The second victim suffered gunshot wounds but is expected to be released from the hospital soon.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Take Your Child to Work Day
As many of you know, today is Take Your Child to Work Day. I always like to meet the families of our department members, so I set time aside each year on this day to do so. Some of the kids I met are below. We also put together our Mounted Patrol, Canine and Helicopter sections and bring several of our Tactical Team vehicles out for the kids to check out. They're out there right now, and I hope to get some pictures up of those events tomorrow.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
My smallest visitor yet and her sister (note that they have matching KCPD shirts).
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Victims of murder-suicide identified
At about 10:06 p.m. Monday, April 19, officers were called to 3818 E. 60th Terr. on a shooting. They found a man and woman dead inside the residence. It was later determined to be a murder-suicide. The victims have been identified as 36-year-old Lorine Greer, a black female, and 47-year-old Marvell Greer, a black male, both of Kansas City, Mo.
Police investigating kidnapping
APRIL 22 UPDATE: Raul Ortiz-Caseres and Regino Vasquez-Martinez have been charged with the kidnapping in Jackson County, Mo. They are still in custody in Fairview Heights, Ill., and will be extradited soon. They are being held on $150,000 bond each.
At about 1:52 p.m. yesterday, April 20, police were called to an apartment at 3701 Baltimore on a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, they contacted a woman who said she'd gotten a call from her sister, who lived at the apartment. The woman was speaking with her sister, and while on the phone, she said someone was trying to break into her apartment. Then the line went dead. The woman was very concerned and left work to go to her sister's apartment. When she arrived, she found the door to her sister's apartment forced open and her sister was nowhere to be found. She called police.
While police were interviewing the victim's sister, other officers found a nearby witness. He said he saw two Hispanic men force a woman into a brown van and leave. Hours later, the victim's sister got a phone call from the victim. The victim said she was in a McDonald's bathroom, and she'd locked herself inside. She told her sister she'd been kidnapped and was very afraid. After a while, the McDonald's manager unlocked the door to the bathroom. The manager found the victim obviously distraught and on her cell phone. There was a language barrier, so the manager got on the victim's phone and figured out the situation. The manager called police immediately. By that point, the victim and suspects were in Fairview Heights, Ill. Local police arrested the two suspects and located the victim at the McDonald's. The suspects are currently in custody in Fairview Heights. Kansas City detectives are there and are questioning the suspects at this time.
Raul Ortiz-Caseres
Regino Vasquez-Martinez
__________________________________________________
At about 1:52 p.m. yesterday, April 20, police were called to an apartment at 3701 Baltimore on a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, they contacted a woman who said she'd gotten a call from her sister, who lived at the apartment. The woman was speaking with her sister, and while on the phone, she said someone was trying to break into her apartment. Then the line went dead. The woman was very concerned and left work to go to her sister's apartment. When she arrived, she found the door to her sister's apartment forced open and her sister was nowhere to be found. She called police.
While police were interviewing the victim's sister, other officers found a nearby witness. He said he saw two Hispanic men force a woman into a brown van and leave. Hours later, the victim's sister got a phone call from the victim. The victim said she was in a McDonald's bathroom, and she'd locked herself inside. She told her sister she'd been kidnapped and was very afraid. After a while, the McDonald's manager unlocked the door to the bathroom. The manager found the victim obviously distraught and on her cell phone. There was a language barrier, so the manager got on the victim's phone and figured out the situation. The manager called police immediately. By that point, the victim and suspects were in Fairview Heights, Ill. Local police arrested the two suspects and located the victim at the McDonald's. The suspects are currently in custody in Fairview Heights. Kansas City detectives are there and are questioning the suspects at this time.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Man killed in Armour Blvd. apartment identified
On Sunday evening, April 18, officers were called to 400 East Armour Blvd. to investigate a shooting. Upon arrival, the officers contacted a male in his 20s in the lobby of the apartment building. The male in the lobby told officers he had been shot and that another male was also shot in the doorway of his second-floor apartment. When officers went to the apartment, they found a man dead in the doorway of the apartment. He has been identified as 20-year-old Michael Wilson of Kansas City, Mo.
The male in the lobby is the resident of the apartment. Preliminarily, it appears the dead man was trying to break into the apartment of the man in the lobby. Detectives continue to investigate.
The male in the lobby is the resident of the apartment. Preliminarily, it appears the dead man was trying to break into the apartment of the man in the lobby. Detectives continue to investigate.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Meeting on youth issues brings stakeholders to the table
If there’s anything today’s meeting of youth advocates taught me, it’s that we have some really smart young adults in this town. When they heard the police were going to facilitate a meeting for youth advocates, four Central High School students called my office last week and said they’d like to come. They told me they’d done a problem-solving exercise at school in which they identified problems facing Kansas City’s youth and brainstormed solutions. I asked to see their presentation, and I was blown away by what they had to say. They were spot-on on several accounts, so I invited them to speak at today’s meeting at Police Headquarters and give their presentation to the larger group.
A little over a week ago, we realized the need to get all the people who advocate and provide services for youth in our city into one place. I approached it much like I did the city’s homelessness issue a few years back. We discovered there were dozens of groups in Kansas City who served the homeless, but they were working separately for the most part. We realized we could do so much more together, so we started a Homelessness Task Force that brought dozens of people to the table who work with the homeless every day in some way or another, including police, hospital staff, shelter leaders and social workers. This group has now morphed into an official City task force and is working to draft policies that we hope will someday eliminate homelessness in Kansas City.
I want to model the process for finding solutions to youth issues after this process. That’s what today was all about: bringing together the people who can identify and solve the problems facing today’s teens and having them work cooperatively. The four students from Central High School were not originally on yesterday’s agenda, but when they called me and explained their message, I knew they were a Godsend that had to be part of this process. Several of the teens at today’s meeting said they hadn’t heard of many of the youth programs represented, and we hope we can change that by bringing them together.
These youth advocacy meetings will continue but will no longer be facilitated by police. With our Police Athletic League and DARE programs we’re a natural partner, but the City is taking the lead from here on out. Thalia Cherry, youth advocate in the City Manager’s Office, is organizing a public focus group at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 22, in the College Basketball Experience at 13th and Grand downtown. City Council Members Cindy Circo and Sharon Sanders-Brooks are drafting a Youth Master Plan for Kansas City. This momentum is very exciting, and I’m looking forward to what can be achieved when those who are passionate about helping kids all come together.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
A little over a week ago, we realized the need to get all the people who advocate and provide services for youth in our city into one place. I approached it much like I did the city’s homelessness issue a few years back. We discovered there were dozens of groups in Kansas City who served the homeless, but they were working separately for the most part. We realized we could do so much more together, so we started a Homelessness Task Force that brought dozens of people to the table who work with the homeless every day in some way or another, including police, hospital staff, shelter leaders and social workers. This group has now morphed into an official City task force and is working to draft policies that we hope will someday eliminate homelessness in Kansas City.
I want to model the process for finding solutions to youth issues after this process. That’s what today was all about: bringing together the people who can identify and solve the problems facing today’s teens and having them work cooperatively. The four students from Central High School were not originally on yesterday’s agenda, but when they called me and explained their message, I knew they were a Godsend that had to be part of this process. Several of the teens at today’s meeting said they hadn’t heard of many of the youth programs represented, and we hope we can change that by bringing them together.
These youth advocacy meetings will continue but will no longer be facilitated by police. With our Police Athletic League and DARE programs we’re a natural partner, but the City is taking the lead from here on out. Thalia Cherry, youth advocate in the City Manager’s Office, is organizing a public focus group at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 22, in the College Basketball Experience at 13th and Grand downtown. City Council Members Cindy Circo and Sharon Sanders-Brooks are drafting a Youth Master Plan for Kansas City. This momentum is very exciting, and I’m looking forward to what can be achieved when those who are passionate about helping kids all come together.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Man shot early Sunday morning dies
A man shot at 12:33 a.m. Sunday in the 5800 block of Olive has died. He has been identified as 21-year-old Emmanuel Menifield of Kansas City, Mo.
Officers were called to investigate a shooting early Sunday and found five victims outside a home in the 5800 block of Olive. Menifield was one of two victims (males in their 20s) who had life-threatening injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment. A 13-year-old boy was transported to an area hospital for treatment of a non-life threatening gunshot injury. The other two victims (a male and female in their 20's) refused treatment at the scene for minor gun shot wounds.
Officers were told a car drove by as the victims were standing around a car parked in the street and fired numerous gunshots at them. The car sped away after the shooting. A vehicle description is not being released at this time.
No suspects are in custody, and detectives ask anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Officers were called to investigate a shooting early Sunday and found five victims outside a home in the 5800 block of Olive. Menifield was one of two victims (males in their 20s) who had life-threatening injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment. A 13-year-old boy was transported to an area hospital for treatment of a non-life threatening gunshot injury. The other two victims (a male and female in their 20's) refused treatment at the scene for minor gun shot wounds.
Officers were told a car drove by as the victims were standing around a car parked in the street and fired numerous gunshots at them. The car sped away after the shooting. A vehicle description is not being released at this time.
No suspects are in custody, and detectives ask anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
KCPD shines spotlight on sexual assault awareness in ribbon campaign
PRESS RELEASE:
The Kansas City Police Department is joining 32 other area law enforcement agencies and the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) to put a spotlight on sexual assault awareness April 19-23.
Officers from the agencies listed below will tie teal ribbons to the spotlights of their patrol cars April 19-23 as part of the Spotlight on Sexual Assault Ribbon Campaign to show support for the victims of sexual violence. The campaign kicked off at 1 p.m. April 19 with a press conference featuring vehicles and representatives from participating law enforcement agencies and commanders of the sex crimes units of the Kansas City Missouri and Overland Park Police Departmentsat the Kansas City Regional Police Academy.
The Ribbon Campaign highlights law enforcement’s commitment to ending sexual violence in the community, in partnership with MOCSA. It’s part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time that recognizes and empowers victims of sexual assault.
Kansas City, Mo., saw an 11 percent increase in reported forcible rapes from 2008 to 2009 but a slight decrease in all other sex crimes.
“We’re pleased to join with other law enforcement agencies throughout the Kansas City area to deliver the message that sex crimes will not be tolerated, and we will do everything we can to bring the perpetrators to justice and bring support to the victims,” said Captain Mark Folsom, Commander of KCPD’s Special Victims Unit.
The participating agencies include:
From Missouri:
Belton Police Dept.
Cass County Sheriff's Dept.
Clay County Park Rangers
Gladston Public Safety
Grain Valley Police Dept.
Independence Police Dept.
Jackson County Sheriff's Dept.
Kansas City Missouri Police Dept.
Oak Grove Police Dept.
Parkville Police Dept.
Peculiar Police Dept.
Platte City Police Dept.
Platte County Sheriff's Office
Pleasant Hill Police Dept.
Raymore Police Dept.
Raytown Police Dept.
Riverside Dept. of Public Safety
Sugar Creek Police Dept.
Tracy Police Dept.
University of Missouri-Kansas City Police Dept.
From Kansas:
Fairway Police Dept.
Gardner Public Safety Dept.
Johnson County Sheriff's Office
Kansas City Kansas Police Dept.
KU Medical Center Campus Police
Lenexa Police Dept.
Olathe Police Dept.
Osawatamie Police Dept.
Overland Park Police Dept.
Paola Police Dept.
Prairie Village Police Dept.
Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office
Belton Police Dept.
Cass County Sheriff's Dept.
Clay County Park Rangers
Gladston Public Safety
Grain Valley Police Dept.
Independence Police Dept.
Jackson County Sheriff's Dept.
Kansas City Missouri Police Dept.
Oak Grove Police Dept.
Parkville Police Dept.
Peculiar Police Dept.
Platte City Police Dept.
Platte County Sheriff's Office
Pleasant Hill Police Dept.
Raymore Police Dept.
Raytown Police Dept.
Riverside Dept. of Public Safety
Sugar Creek Police Dept.
Tracy Police Dept.
University of Missouri-Kansas City Police Dept.
From Kansas:
Fairway Police Dept.
Gardner Public Safety Dept.
Johnson County Sheriff's Office
Kansas City Kansas Police Dept.
KU Medical Center Campus Police
Lenexa Police Dept.
Olathe Police Dept.
Osawatamie Police Dept.
Overland Park Police Dept.
Paola Police Dept.
Prairie Village Police Dept.
Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office
Friday, April 16, 2010
From Philadelphia to Kansas City, police cope with "flash mob"-type gatherings
If you read this New York Times article, you’ll see something that took place a few weeks ago in Philadelphia that sounds very much like what happened on the Country Club Plaza here last weekend. Large groups of kids converged on venerable areas of the city through texting and social media and turned into an unruly mob that damaged property, intimidated shoppers and diners and broke out into numerous fights. The same issues also came up in Philly that have here – finding something else for the kids to do, racial tension and parental responsibility.
Coincidentally, the annual Police Executive Research Forum's Annual Meeting is taking place in Philadelphia right now, and the leader of KCPD’s Patrol Bureau – Deputy Chief Cy Ritter – is there. He told me about a town hall meeting at the conference this morning in which Philadelphia Police talked about the “flash mob” problems they’re having and commended Kansas City Police for how quickly we’re taking action here.
Philadelphia’s Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel said he found this report of last weekend’s Plaza incident that I posted on my blog. Several police leaders at the conference said they were surprised I posted such a report for everyone to see, but transparency is one of our critical values, and I think it was important to objectively document the events of that night and the police response to them. Deputy Chief Ritter then presented a bit more about how our department handled the situation and what we plan to do in the future. Deputy Commissioner Bethel praised how quickly KCPD responded to and documented the event. He added that the only thing he would do differently would be to document the events on video, which Philadelphia is now doing.
Fortunately, that was already in our plans for the Plaza this weekend. Much like we do at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, big college basketball tournaments and other events with lots of people, we’re going to set up cameras on the Plaza this weekend and monitor them from a remote location to better track trouble spots and deploy officers to those areas. But if the crowds decide to skip the Plaza this weekend and congregate elsewhere in the city to cause disorder, we’ll move there, too. Our mobile response is ready.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey also made another good point at this morning’s town hall meeting: It is not the job of police to find something for teens do for entertainment. He said that’s up to the community. The job of police is pretty well encapsulated in our department’s mission statement: “… To protect life and property while reducing fear and disorder.” If a lot of juveniles gather in the city somewhere this weekend and are civil and law-abiding, police intervention won’t be necessary. But we’re ready in the event that’s not the case.
It was heartening to hear the leaders of the nation’s fourth-largest police department praising how we handled things and saying KCPD was “ahead of the curve” in front of nearly 300 other law enforcement leaders from around the U.S., Canada and Europe. But what matters most is how safe people here in Kansas City feel, and they can take comfort knowing that their police department is innovatively and effectively addressing any issue that may compromise that safety.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Coincidentally, the annual Police Executive Research Forum's Annual Meeting is taking place in Philadelphia right now, and the leader of KCPD’s Patrol Bureau – Deputy Chief Cy Ritter – is there. He told me about a town hall meeting at the conference this morning in which Philadelphia Police talked about the “flash mob” problems they’re having and commended Kansas City Police for how quickly we’re taking action here.
Philadelphia’s Deputy Commissioner Kevin Bethel said he found this report of last weekend’s Plaza incident that I posted on my blog. Several police leaders at the conference said they were surprised I posted such a report for everyone to see, but transparency is one of our critical values, and I think it was important to objectively document the events of that night and the police response to them. Deputy Chief Ritter then presented a bit more about how our department handled the situation and what we plan to do in the future. Deputy Commissioner Bethel praised how quickly KCPD responded to and documented the event. He added that the only thing he would do differently would be to document the events on video, which Philadelphia is now doing.
Fortunately, that was already in our plans for the Plaza this weekend. Much like we do at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, big college basketball tournaments and other events with lots of people, we’re going to set up cameras on the Plaza this weekend and monitor them from a remote location to better track trouble spots and deploy officers to those areas. But if the crowds decide to skip the Plaza this weekend and congregate elsewhere in the city to cause disorder, we’ll move there, too. Our mobile response is ready.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey also made another good point at this morning’s town hall meeting: It is not the job of police to find something for teens do for entertainment. He said that’s up to the community. The job of police is pretty well encapsulated in our department’s mission statement: “… To protect life and property while reducing fear and disorder.” If a lot of juveniles gather in the city somewhere this weekend and are civil and law-abiding, police intervention won’t be necessary. But we’re ready in the event that’s not the case.
It was heartening to hear the leaders of the nation’s fourth-largest police department praising how we handled things and saying KCPD was “ahead of the curve” in front of nearly 300 other law enforcement leaders from around the U.S., Canada and Europe. But what matters most is how safe people here in Kansas City feel, and they can take comfort knowing that their police department is innovatively and effectively addressing any issue that may compromise that safety.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
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