Don’t just criticize Police Chief Rick Smith and KCPD. Help them keep the public safe

In recent weeks, The Star’s campaign against Police Chief Rick Smith and the Kansas City Police Department has been filled with unfair inferences. First, the idea one could take from The Star’s July 13 editorial that the Kansas City Police Department has not made any meaningful use-of-force reforms is false. Before the George Floyd tragedy, the department had made several changes in policy:

▪ Choke holds are not authorized.

▪ De-escalation training is done yearly.

▪ Alternatives to shooting are exhausted, in line with a standard set by a Supreme Court decision.

▪ Officers are trained to intervene in incidents of improper conduct.

▪ Generally, officers are trained not to shoot at moving vehicles.

Second, the editorial gave the impression that no serious reform efforts are in the works. Another falsehood. All police shootings are now given an independent review by either the Missouri Highway Patrol or the FBI. Other changes to help the police do a better job to protect and serve the community are always examined by the chief and the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.

Third, the suggestion that Smith is a “no-show” in the urban core of Kansas City is mistaken. He has visited the inner city and several crime-infested neighborhoods numerous times. He also marched and prayed with protesters and Mayor Quinton Lucas recently. There is nothing the chief wants more than a cessation of hostilities in the community.

Fourth, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has come up with misleading accusations against the chief and the department. Baker is wrong to suggest Smith believes, “you’re 100% with us or 100% against us,” as she put it. Her statements that she is “out of tools” to work with the police are untrue and inflammatory. These two sectors of law enforcement need to work together for the betterment of the community, not fling barbs to its detriment. She bears as much responsibility for bringing crime under control as the police. Stop pointing fingers and instead communicate.

It’s apparent that The Star’s campaign against Smith and the police is part of its effort to get rid of the state-appointed commission governing the department. Do the editors realize that the commission’s structure was formed many years ago to stop the influence peddling and corruption when the department answered to the City Council?

All the commissioners are Kansas City residents, which is local control of the police department. With the current structure, several members of the community have stepped up with millions of dollars in donations for such items as body cameras for the officers.

St. Louis abandoned its state-appointed commission with no results. The murder rate there is climbing just as fast as before.

You can be assured that Kansas City’s police commissioners are serving on this board with one goal in mind: to make our community safer. We ask plenty of hard questions and expect frank answers.

Berating the chief and his force every time an enforcement action is necessary is not helping anyone achieve that goal. But it will foment disrespect for the rule of law and violence against the police. You can help by getting the facts to the community, not endorsing baseless claims.

This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Don’t just criticize Police Chief Rick Smith and KCPD. Help them keep the public safe."