KCPD’s Shoal Creek Patrol Division and Northland Neighborhoods Inc. will sponsor their fifth annual Safe Trick-or-Treat event Saturday at Antioch Center.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. on Halloween and feature lots of candy, a haunted house, haunted forest, games and more. Safe Trick-or-Treat is free and open to children 12 and younger. It will be located on the west side of the mall near Vivion and Antioch roads. Signs will guide trick-or-treaters to the entrances. Once there, spooky witches and goblins will lead kids and parents to haunted houses, treats, popcorn and fun.
The haunted houses will be open from 5 to 8:30 p.m., and trick-or-treating will be from 5 to 9 p.m.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Friday, October 30, 2009
Detective who was shot this morning should be OK
At 6:32 a.m. today, patrol officers were called to the Greyhound bus station at 11th and Troost on an assist-the-officer call.
Upon arrival, officers contacted detectives who were at the bus station. The detectives advised they had tried to stop a man who was acting suspicious. After contacting the man, a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the suspect's gun went off and struck one of the detectives in the leg. The suspect was taken into custody and was found to have two guns on him when stopped by detectives.
The detective who was shot was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
Upon arrival, officers contacted detectives who were at the bus station. The detectives advised they had tried to stop a man who was acting suspicious. After contacting the man, a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the suspect's gun went off and struck one of the detectives in the leg. The suspect was taken into custody and was found to have two guns on him when stopped by detectives.
The detective who was shot was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Teen helped catch fugitive and protect a restaurant full of people
On Tuesday, we presented a very brave young man with the Police Department's Certificate of Appreciation. Here is his story:
Rodney Simpson was just expecting to bring his girlfriend some dinner the night of July 19, 2009, but he ended up negotiating with a fugitive and protecting dozens of people from harm.
Earlier that evening, Leawood police discovered a stolen car in the Wal-Mart parking lot near 135th Street and State Line Road. Kansas City Police came to assist and found stolen guns and drugs inside the stolen car. When the two occupants of the stolen car – a man and a woman – exited Wal-Mart, they saw police, and the man fled on foot. He ran to the nearby Hardee’s and into the women’s restroom.
Mr. Simpson was not aware any of this had occurred as he drove at about 8 p.m. to bring food to his girlfriend, who worked at the Hardee’s. He did see several police on nearby roads and the police helicopter overhead and figured they were looking for someone. When he entered the Hardee’s, he heard screaming by the restrooms and saw female Hardee’s employees yelling at the man they’d found in the women’s restroom. They were screaming at him to get out. Mr. Simpson immediately walked up to the ruckus. The suspect raised both fists and prepared to fight him, but Mr. Simpson told the suspect to calm down. The suspect told Mr. Simpson that he had to make the Hardee’s employees stop yelling at him, because if Mr. Simpson didn’t, than the suspect would.
Mr. Simpson quickly calmed everyone down and began talking with the suspect. The suspect told Mr. Simpson the police were looking for him and offered Mr. Simpson money to drive him away from the area. The suspect asked to use a cell phone, and Mr. Simpson lent him his. He convinced the suspect to go back in the restroom. Mr. Simpson told him police were everywhere, and it would be best to just lock himself in the bathroom until the area was clear.
After Mr. Simpson persuaded the suspect to go back into the restroom, he convinced all of the customers and employees to evacuate the restaurant. Once everyone was safely outside, Mr. Simpson called 911 and flagged down nearby police officers. Police took the convicted felon into custody without incident and found a loaded handgun in the bathroom stall he’d been hiding in.
Major Cheryl Rose said that although he is just 18 years old, Mr. Simpson’s quick thinking and bravery undoubtedly kept a situation from becoming violent. And Captain Michael Perne said, “Mr. Simpson’s courage goes far beyond what most people in his situation would have done. He put the safety of the other citizens before his own and should be commended.”
Earlier that evening, Leawood police discovered a stolen car in the Wal-Mart parking lot near 135th Street and State Line Road. Kansas City Police came to assist and found stolen guns and drugs inside the stolen car. When the two occupants of the stolen car – a man and a woman – exited Wal-Mart, they saw police, and the man fled on foot. He ran to the nearby Hardee’s and into the women’s restroom.
Mr. Simpson was not aware any of this had occurred as he drove at about 8 p.m. to bring food to his girlfriend, who worked at the Hardee’s. He did see several police on nearby roads and the police helicopter overhead and figured they were looking for someone. When he entered the Hardee’s, he heard screaming by the restrooms and saw female Hardee’s employees yelling at the man they’d found in the women’s restroom. They were screaming at him to get out. Mr. Simpson immediately walked up to the ruckus. The suspect raised both fists and prepared to fight him, but Mr. Simpson told the suspect to calm down. The suspect told Mr. Simpson that he had to make the Hardee’s employees stop yelling at him, because if Mr. Simpson didn’t, than the suspect would.
Mr. Simpson quickly calmed everyone down and began talking with the suspect. The suspect told Mr. Simpson the police were looking for him and offered Mr. Simpson money to drive him away from the area. The suspect asked to use a cell phone, and Mr. Simpson lent him his. He convinced the suspect to go back in the restroom. Mr. Simpson told him police were everywhere, and it would be best to just lock himself in the bathroom until the area was clear.
After Mr. Simpson persuaded the suspect to go back into the restroom, he convinced all of the customers and employees to evacuate the restaurant. Once everyone was safely outside, Mr. Simpson called 911 and flagged down nearby police officers. Police took the convicted felon into custody without incident and found a loaded handgun in the bathroom stall he’d been hiding in.
Major Cheryl Rose said that although he is just 18 years old, Mr. Simpson’s quick thinking and bravery undoubtedly kept a situation from becoming violent. And Captain Michael Perne said, “Mr. Simpson’s courage goes far beyond what most people in his situation would have done. He put the safety of the other citizens before his own and should be commended.”
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Update on Waldo rapes
A blog commenter requested an update on the case of the recent Waldo rapes. Unfortunately, there has been little new information. Here's what we know:
The Sex Crimes Section is investigating two rapes in the Waldo area that are very similar. The first occurred on Sept. 29 in the 7500 block of Summit and the second on Oct. 11 in the 100 block of East 78th Terrace. Both happened between midnight and 3 a.m. The victims were awakened by a male suspect and subsequently raped. Detectives are pursuing possible leads and other investigative avenues. Patrol Officers have increased their presence in the area.
The suspect is described as possibly being a black male with a deep voice. One victim thought he smelled like smoke. Please contact the Sex Crimes Section (234-5220) or the TIPS Hotline (474-8477) if you have any information that may help identify the suspect.
We encourage everyone to continue to utilize crime prevention techniques like locking doors and windows, maintaining adequate lighting, and cutting back plants, trees and bushes that might obstruct views and provide hiding spots. Most importantly people need to look out for each other and call 911 if they see anything suspicious. Police can help with security surveys of your property. Please contact your nearest Patrol Division for this service.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
The Sex Crimes Section is investigating two rapes in the Waldo area that are very similar. The first occurred on Sept. 29 in the 7500 block of Summit and the second on Oct. 11 in the 100 block of East 78th Terrace. Both happened between midnight and 3 a.m. The victims were awakened by a male suspect and subsequently raped. Detectives are pursuing possible leads and other investigative avenues. Patrol Officers have increased their presence in the area.
The suspect is described as possibly being a black male with a deep voice. One victim thought he smelled like smoke. Please contact the Sex Crimes Section (234-5220) or the TIPS Hotline (474-8477) if you have any information that may help identify the suspect.
We encourage everyone to continue to utilize crime prevention techniques like locking doors and windows, maintaining adequate lighting, and cutting back plants, trees and bushes that might obstruct views and provide hiding spots. Most importantly people need to look out for each other and call 911 if they see anything suspicious. Police can help with security surveys of your property. Please contact your nearest Patrol Division for this service.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
After clearing 100 cases, Sex Crimes Cold Case Squad gets grant to continue
PRESS RELEASE:
The successful Sex Crimes Cold Case Squad has been awarded nearly $500,000 to continue their work for another year.
The half-million-dollar Solving Cold Cases with DNA grant from the National Institute of Justice funds the Squad, which started their work in January 2008. The Board of Police Commissioners approved receipt of the grant at their Oct. 27 meeting.
Since January 2008, the Squad has reviewed 647 cases and cleared 100 of them with the help of the Kansas City Regional Crime Lab. Some of the most notable cases cleared by the Squad include:
* Kevin L. Hayslett committed at least 10 rapes between 2001 and 2003. He sought out vulnerable women, usually forcing them into his car and taking them to a secluded area where he attacked and raped them. He always was armed during the attacks. He was convicted of 10 counts of rape and will spend the rest of his life in prison.
* In August 1992, a man and woman walking home were attacked by a group of four men. The men forced the couple into their home and came in with them. Each of the four men took turns raping the woman while holding the man at gunpoint. They also stole electronics and the male victim’s car keys. Now, all four of the men have been indentified, charged and convicted. Elbert J. Hicks and Marcus N. Mitchell received 25-year sentences; Terrence Curry was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and on Oct. 16, 2009, Kevin E. Hicks received a 45-year sentence.
* Samuel S. Johnson was charged with five rapes that occurred during the summer of 1982 in and around Westport. He broke into women’s apartments and raped them. He had almost finished a 30-year prison sentence for another 1982 Westport rape when the new charges were filed. He died in jail awaiting trial for the five new charges.
Captain Mark Folsom, commander of KCPD’s Special Victims Unit, said that after 100 cases solved, he looks forward to the Sex Crimes Cold Case Squad’s continued success.
"This grant means we can continue to get long-awaited justice for the victims of these heinous crimes," he said.
Since January 2008, the Sex Crimes Cold Case Squad filed charges in 29 cases, and another 71 were cleared by exceptional means. Exceptional clearance means the suspect was identified, located, and there was sufficient evidence to prosecute, but the prosecution could not go forward because of exceptional reasons. Some of the most common include the suspect being deceased; the suspect being incarcerated elsewhere and ineligible for extradition; or the victim refusing to cooperate in prosecution.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
The successful Sex Crimes Cold Case Squad has been awarded nearly $500,000 to continue their work for another year.
The half-million-dollar Solving Cold Cases with DNA grant from the National Institute of Justice funds the Squad, which started their work in January 2008. The Board of Police Commissioners approved receipt of the grant at their Oct. 27 meeting.
Since January 2008, the Squad has reviewed 647 cases and cleared 100 of them with the help of the Kansas City Regional Crime Lab. Some of the most notable cases cleared by the Squad include:
* Kevin L. Hayslett committed at least 10 rapes between 2001 and 2003. He sought out vulnerable women, usually forcing them into his car and taking them to a secluded area where he attacked and raped them. He always was armed during the attacks. He was convicted of 10 counts of rape and will spend the rest of his life in prison.
* In August 1992, a man and woman walking home were attacked by a group of four men. The men forced the couple into their home and came in with them. Each of the four men took turns raping the woman while holding the man at gunpoint. They also stole electronics and the male victim’s car keys. Now, all four of the men have been indentified, charged and convicted. Elbert J. Hicks and Marcus N. Mitchell received 25-year sentences; Terrence Curry was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and on Oct. 16, 2009, Kevin E. Hicks received a 45-year sentence.
* Samuel S. Johnson was charged with five rapes that occurred during the summer of 1982 in and around Westport. He broke into women’s apartments and raped them. He had almost finished a 30-year prison sentence for another 1982 Westport rape when the new charges were filed. He died in jail awaiting trial for the five new charges.
Captain Mark Folsom, commander of KCPD’s Special Victims Unit, said that after 100 cases solved, he looks forward to the Sex Crimes Cold Case Squad’s continued success.
"This grant means we can continue to get long-awaited justice for the victims of these heinous crimes," he said.
Since January 2008, the Sex Crimes Cold Case Squad filed charges in 29 cases, and another 71 were cleared by exceptional means. Exceptional clearance means the suspect was identified, located, and there was sufficient evidence to prosecute, but the prosecution could not go forward because of exceptional reasons. Some of the most common include the suspect being deceased; the suspect being incarcerated elsewhere and ineligible for extradition; or the victim refusing to cooperate in prosecution.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Highlights of today's Board of Police Commissioners Meeting
Highlights of the Oct. 27, 2009, Kansas City Missouri Board of Police Commissioners Meeting
* MGT of America presented the results a study commissioned by the Board to review the Department’s mandatory retirement policy. This policy requires law enforcement officers to retire after 30 years of service and has been in place since 1956. MGT consultants said in police departments nationwide, mandatory retirement ages are becoming a thing of the past. They said chronological age is a poor predictor of physical capabilities. Commissioners had expressed concern that extending the retirement age might lead to stagnation in the ranks and lower morale. MGT surveyed KCPD’s approximately 1,400 law enforcement members and received about 1,100 responses. They concluded “a majority were at least indifferent to the idea of extending the retirement age, if not open to changes in the retirement policy, provided there is also a possibility of a corresponding increase in retirement benefits.” The study also concluded that members’ concerns about the promotional process could be tempered by requiring set years of service before an officer could become a sergeant or captain. MGT consultants recommended that KCPD adopt a comprehensive wellness program and possibly implement physical testing. The commissioners said the study gave them several options to consider, which they will continue to do over the next several months. They said they also will consider the effect of officers working longer on the fiscal health of the law enforcement retirement system.
* Chief James Corwin said he will be working to put together a committee that will be tasked with getting the Public Safety Sales Tax renewal on the April 2010 ballot. The committee would include City Council members and members of the Board of Police Commissioners. The current sales tax, which was approved by voters in 2002, is set to sunset in June 2011. It funds capital improvements for the police department.
* Chief Corwin also discussed KCPD providing security for the Municipal Court. He said officers used to be called to every court appearance, even though many cases were simply continued, and the officers could have been putting their time to better use. Now, they only appear in municipal court when testimony will take place in a case. The end result was that far fewer officers were in the municipal court at any given time, which caused the presiding judge to be concerned about court security. A private security company provides security at the entrances, but no armed guards are present in the court rooms. The U.S. Marshal’s Office conducted a study and found that to adequately provide security at the court, the cost would be $500,000 annually. Chief Corwin said he is waiting on a final operational plan, but preliminarily, a traffic squad will be taken off the street to provide court security as well as supplement the Downtown Footbeat officers. Commissioner Patrick McInerney said he was concerned about trained traffic officers being used for court security purposes and was worried police might be called upon to provide security at other city facilities. Mayor Mark Funkhouser and Chief Corwin said they would try to seek resources to both provide security and keep officers on the street.
* During public comments, the family of Charles McNeil, who was found dead in a car in June 2008, asked police to reopen their loved one’s case. The death had been ruled a suicide by a former medical examiner, but the family asked police to investigate it as a homicide. Board Vice President Karl Zobrist asked Chief Corwin to designate someone to look into the investigation and keep the board and family abreast of its progress.
* Deputy Chief Cy Ritter said that despite the police force being down by 91 officers (48 vacancies and 43 who are sick, injured or on military leave), police continued to meet response-time goals in September with a median response time of 6.19 minutes. He said geographically large, suburban, patrol divisions like Shoal Creek Patrol are particularly down officers, and thus have higher response times. Shoal Creek’s median response time in September was 8.44 minutes.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
* MGT of America presented the results a study commissioned by the Board to review the Department’s mandatory retirement policy. This policy requires law enforcement officers to retire after 30 years of service and has been in place since 1956. MGT consultants said in police departments nationwide, mandatory retirement ages are becoming a thing of the past. They said chronological age is a poor predictor of physical capabilities. Commissioners had expressed concern that extending the retirement age might lead to stagnation in the ranks and lower morale. MGT surveyed KCPD’s approximately 1,400 law enforcement members and received about 1,100 responses. They concluded “a majority were at least indifferent to the idea of extending the retirement age, if not open to changes in the retirement policy, provided there is also a possibility of a corresponding increase in retirement benefits.” The study also concluded that members’ concerns about the promotional process could be tempered by requiring set years of service before an officer could become a sergeant or captain. MGT consultants recommended that KCPD adopt a comprehensive wellness program and possibly implement physical testing. The commissioners said the study gave them several options to consider, which they will continue to do over the next several months. They said they also will consider the effect of officers working longer on the fiscal health of the law enforcement retirement system.
* Chief James Corwin said he will be working to put together a committee that will be tasked with getting the Public Safety Sales Tax renewal on the April 2010 ballot. The committee would include City Council members and members of the Board of Police Commissioners. The current sales tax, which was approved by voters in 2002, is set to sunset in June 2011. It funds capital improvements for the police department.
* Chief Corwin also discussed KCPD providing security for the Municipal Court. He said officers used to be called to every court appearance, even though many cases were simply continued, and the officers could have been putting their time to better use. Now, they only appear in municipal court when testimony will take place in a case. The end result was that far fewer officers were in the municipal court at any given time, which caused the presiding judge to be concerned about court security. A private security company provides security at the entrances, but no armed guards are present in the court rooms. The U.S. Marshal’s Office conducted a study and found that to adequately provide security at the court, the cost would be $500,000 annually. Chief Corwin said he is waiting on a final operational plan, but preliminarily, a traffic squad will be taken off the street to provide court security as well as supplement the Downtown Footbeat officers. Commissioner Patrick McInerney said he was concerned about trained traffic officers being used for court security purposes and was worried police might be called upon to provide security at other city facilities. Mayor Mark Funkhouser and Chief Corwin said they would try to seek resources to both provide security and keep officers on the street.
* During public comments, the family of Charles McNeil, who was found dead in a car in June 2008, asked police to reopen their loved one’s case. The death had been ruled a suicide by a former medical examiner, but the family asked police to investigate it as a homicide. Board Vice President Karl Zobrist asked Chief Corwin to designate someone to look into the investigation and keep the board and family abreast of its progress.
* Deputy Chief Cy Ritter said that despite the police force being down by 91 officers (48 vacancies and 43 who are sick, injured or on military leave), police continued to meet response-time goals in September with a median response time of 6.19 minutes. He said geographically large, suburban, patrol divisions like Shoal Creek Patrol are particularly down officers, and thus have higher response times. Shoal Creek’s median response time in September was 8.44 minutes.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Police seek bank robber
At 10:49 a.m. today, Oct. 27, Bank Midwest at 1111 Main St. was robbed, and police are seeking the suspect, captured on surveillance camera above.
The suspect was milling around the lobby area of the bank when the teller asked him if he had any business to conduct. He approached the teller's window, took a folded napkin from his pocket and unfolded it. He took a hand-written note out of the napkin and held it out to her. The note said to "give me the money". In an effort to stall him, she asked him what denominations he wanted. He said hundreds, so she gave him the money in a white bank envelope. He turned and calmly exited through the revolving doors onto Main Street.
If you have any information, please call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Monday, October 26, 2009
Chicago man identified as murder victim
At about 7:48 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, officers were called to the 5200 block of Truman Road on the sound of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has been identified as 19-year-old Miguel A. Grimaldo, an Hispanic male of Chicago, Ill. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Police investigating possible murder-suicide
At about 12:30 p.m. yesterday, Oct. 25, police were called to a home in the 5400 block of Ridgeway to check the welfare of two people whom relatives hadn't seen for nearly two weeks. Police found two people dead inside the home, 73-year-old Patricia A. Kuder, a white female, and 53-year-old Michael Roscher, a white male. Both lived in the home, and Patricia was Michael's mother.
A final determination has not been made on the manner of death, but preliminarily it is being investigated as a murder-suicide.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
A final determination has not been made on the manner of death, but preliminarily it is being investigated as a murder-suicide.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Friday, October 23, 2009
2009 fatal crash statistics
Last week, I mentioned that fatal vehicle crashes in Kansas City are up 15 percent over this time last year with 60 people dead. We've just gotten the statistics for those fatalities through the end of September (at which point we'd had 57 people die in crashes).
Some of the most telling are these:
* 71 percent of people who died were not wearing seat belts.
* 67 percent of the crashes involved people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
It's frustrating to think how many lives would have been saved had people taken the simple steps of buckling a seat belt and/or designating a sober driver. So much pain and tragedy could have been prevented.
Other statistics on those who died in vehicle crashes this year include:
- 82 percent were male, 18 percent female
- 47 percent were white, 44 percent black and 9 percent Hispanic
- A third of all the people who died were between the ages of 30 and 39
- 23 percent of those killed were on a motorcycle
- 16 percent were pedestrians
- 32 percent were ejected from their vehicles
- 25 percent of the crashes occurred on a highway - the rest were on city streets.
I've said it before, and I will keep saying it. Please be careful. Wear your seat belt and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is about life and death.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Some of the most telling are these:
* 71 percent of people who died were not wearing seat belts.
* 67 percent of the crashes involved people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
It's frustrating to think how many lives would have been saved had people taken the simple steps of buckling a seat belt and/or designating a sober driver. So much pain and tragedy could have been prevented.
Other statistics on those who died in vehicle crashes this year include:
- 82 percent were male, 18 percent female
- 47 percent were white, 44 percent black and 9 percent Hispanic
- A third of all the people who died were between the ages of 30 and 39
- 23 percent of those killed were on a motorcycle
- 16 percent were pedestrians
- 32 percent were ejected from their vehicles
- 25 percent of the crashes occurred on a highway - the rest were on city streets.
I've said it before, and I will keep saying it. Please be careful. Wear your seat belt and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is about life and death.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
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