Gang violence in Lions Park??

[lurker]

Yeah. Right, Texie.

A gang-banger gets banged (in/near a public park) so hard that he's (?) life-watched to a real hospital (even the cops aren't sure he's still living) and it's not newsworthy?????

I still smell poo... somewhere under the surface.

[spike52]

Originally Posted by TexKan

Actually I think it's more of them seperating thier private life from work. They deal with riff raff all day - that's thier job. I dunno ask some cops on here if they find it pleasurable to talk about the scum side of what they do. They probably like to talk more about the example they set then the scum they chase.

They make differences in peoples lives in many cases. It seems tho like everyone wants to talk about the muck and mire of thier job. I see more sparkle in my son's eyes when they are talkin bout the bikes they give out at Xmas, the convoy they had to New Orleans, the kids response to a DARE presentation, the child molester they nabbed thru good investigative work. I see only pain when he has talked about the shootings, the kids he had to turn over to CPS cause the dad shot the mom, the druggie that he found dead in the alley. I don't ask about those things cause they don't bring him joy and pride. They are a necessary evil that goes with his job.

The other things thos lites him (and me) up. It's a different language I guess but to me it's the pain you would like to leave where you found it. When's the last time we asked one of our cop posters - what's cookin in the community that's good? I know there are bound to be things but no one talks about them. Why not?

Cops are not the folks that need to be reporting to the public - that's what newsreporters are for. It's not a steet cops job to report - except to his chief. The opportunity to report is there - it's not thier fault it doesn't get in the paper. The information is public. I don't know why that is so hard to understand. The reporters can call and they choose what to print if they print anything at all. Maybe it's the papers policy to only report burglaries, domestics, and car thefts. I do know thos that the calls from dispatch are public record.

Nice post TK...

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by lurker

Yeah. Right, Texie.

A gang-banger gets banged (in/near a public park) so hard that he's (?) life-watched to a real hospital (even the cops aren't sure he's still living) and it's not newsworthy?????

I still smell poo... somewhere under the surface.

I agree Lurker...it's not about the giving bikes and feeling good..blah blah freakin my son is a cop blah blah blah crap. It's about public awareness of what is going on in OUR community. People NEED to know what it going on so they can help. The newspaper should have some type of liason with the police dept to get information on crimes. I believe (just a feeling, no facts involved here) that the police probably don't give them too much information. I know it may be an ongoing thing but they can still give out the minimum details. Hell if it were printed maybe someone SEEN something they can use to get an arrest....it seems that there are not enough crimes around here being solved perhaps the public could help. Either way if there is violence in an area and it is a gang hang out I have a right to know so I don't take MY family there. It's sad when the only way I get my news about that kind of stuff is on the DB. THANK YOU DB and thank you lurker for doing the job what others SHOULD be doing.

[Army_of_One]

If you were to go to the Dodge City Crimestoppers page....

you will see that we apparently haven't had any crime since March.

Dodge City, KS - Official Website - Crime of the Month

AND you will note that since 2002 we haven't had any unsolved crimes..

Dodge City, KS - Official Website - Unsolved Crimes

Yeah right...

[Army_of_One]

Here's some more stats...

Dodge City, KS - Official Website - Crime Statistics

I know I missed a few issues of the paper last year but I don't remember reading anything about 30 rapes? That is almost 3 RAPES a month?!?! How many of these have been solved?

[Army_of_One]

Contact Your Local Law Enforcement Agency

Check first with the local law enforcement agency before starting any kind of community crime prevention program. They may be able to help organize your initial meeting. Explain that you would like to start a Neighborhood Watch group and ask for assistance. Ask about the crime situation in your neighborhood. Ask to have a law enforcement representative at your first meeting.

Talk to Your Neighbors

Canvass your neighborhood. Discuss crime problems in your area. Briefly explain the value of Neighborhood Watch programs. Ask about convenient times to schedule your initial Neighborhood Watch meeting.

Be Sure to Mention That

Neighborhood watch does not require frequent meetings. It does not ask that anyone take any personal risks to prevent crime. Neighborhood Watch leaves the responsibility for apprehending criminals where it belongs--with your law enforcement agency.

I guess information flow should work both ways. Another question I have about crime stoppers is... Are all reported alleged criminal activities reported? If I call in and report underage drinking at the Horse track on Sundays and Illegal gambling will they investigate it????

[spike52]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

I agree Lurker...it's not about the giving bikes and feeling good..blah blah freakin my son is a cop blah blah blah crap.
It's about public awareness of what is going on in OUR community. People NEED to know what it going on so they can help. The newspaper should have some type of liason with the police dept to get information on crimes. I believe (just a feeling, no facts involved here) that the police probably don't give them too much information. I know it may be an ongoing thing but they can still give out the minimum details. Hell if it were printed maybe someone SEEN something they can use to get an arrest....it seems that there are not enough crimes around here being solved perhaps the public could help. Either way if there is violence in an area and it is a gang hang out I have a right to know so I don't take MY family there. It's sad when the only way I get my news about that kind of stuff is on the DB. THANK YOU DB and thank you lurker for doing the job what others SHOULD be doing.

Army..
-People get into LE for many reasons, don't knock someone for enjoyment they receive serving thankless civilians. (especially you)
-Many times too much info. released to the public can be detrimental to the case. (no one needs a vigilante)
-The Globe "used" to have someone come by everyday (not sure if this is still correct) and look at all the reports filed by the PD. And the info. given was just pg. 1 of the report, depending on what type of case it was. The narrative section may not be completed & checked for a day two. (again, depending on the type of case)
-Did you ever think that there are people in power that don't want negative info. to get out, so that people will still come to visit your tourist trap town??
-Yes, it is sad that you only get the dirty stuff from the DB. But please, don't make assumptions about the men/women who don't "read" about the dirt, but work to clean it up..

[dustinwadams5]

So who determines what the public should know? Should any person be able to make that choice? I agree with Army and Lurker on this, we should be entitled to information because some of that info could make a major difference to one of us THANKLESS CIVILIANS!

[wordsmythe]

The police are granted their power from the society they are supposed to be protecting. When any officer puts their own needs above that of the society they are sworn to protect then it's time to hang it up and become a night watchman somewhere.

This includes the Clerks mentality of "this job would be great if it weren't for the F*CKING customers."

Thankless or not, they are the reason you are there.

[NoLongerInRadioGuy]

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.