| A couple things posted recently I would like to respond to...
1. The stat about 30 rapes last year. While this is accurate as far as my knowledge goes, look up what exactly the crime of rape is. It has many different elements, not just a violent act against someone. Go to the Kansas statute page and look it up - I know what the elements are, I am not going to do it for you. And also keep in mind this stat refelcts 30 cases of rape reported to the police - many of these cases are discovered to be unfounded, or once the investigation is complete, rape is no longer the charge, but might be something lesser like indecent liberties or sexual battery.
2. The idea that the public has a right to know what crimes are gong on in the city...I have no problem with that, and I dont think any other officers do either. I do believe the front page of a Kansas Standard Offense Report is open public record. This shows the offense, location, time, vicitm, and other information. Dont get on the back of law enforcement because we dont run to the newspaper and other media to make sure YOU know what happened. Either hold the media in the area to report this to you, or, better yet, if you want to know what is going on - THEN CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF! We have become a society that wants everything GIVEN to them because "we have a right to know!" Sure you do...but why rely on someone else to give it to you? (sorry - had a mini-rant starting there) The back page of the offense report lists the suspect(s) in the crime, and that is NOT public record...this helps to see that the suspect gets a fair and impartial trial by jury, and is not convicted by the media. Just because the person is listed as a suspect does not necessarily mean there is probable cause to arrest. Now, once an arrest is made, it is public record through the Ford county jail - but keep in mind an arrest is based on probable cause, which does not meet the court burden of showing beyond a reasonable doubt.
TexKan is very correct, I would much rather relay a positive story than a bad one. If someone asks me about some cool things I have done as a cop, I immediately think of when I was in the academy but home for Christmas break, driving around with another rookie in a blizzard in a patrol car, delivering presents for the salvation army. The looks of happiness on the kids faces was priceless...and seeing most of the parents welling up with tears was thanks enough for the getting out in miserable conditions. Or I could tell ya about watching a 15 year old gang member die from a gun shot wound while I was setting up to do CPR on him. I prefer to remember the first one.  |