By John Sharp
Despite the KCMO Police Department being short-staffed throughout the city and devoting increased personnel to reduce dangerous street racing and “side shows” with vehicles doing burnouts, the quarterly anti-crime meeting November 19 for the South Patrol Division showed almost all categories of serious crimes reported to the police in South Patrol were down significantly year-to-date compared to the same time last year.
Aggravated assaults were down from 192 reported cases to 169, with burglaries way down from 379 to 137, non-fatal shootings down from 49 to 26, rapes down from 39 to 21, stealing cases down from 370 to 305 and thefts from autos down from 622 to 390.
Unfortunately, the number of murders in South Patrol year-to-date stayed the same at 10, and the number of robberies increased from 88 to 93, and the number of stolen autos increased from 733 to 741.
Officers reported at the meeting that the city has increased the penalties for street racing and “sideshows” that often draw large crowds of spectators – sometimes numbering in the hundreds – to film vehicles doing burnouts with their cell phones.
They said fines have been increased for participants, their vehicles can be towed and stop sticks are used at some locations such as parking lots to deflate the tires of participants.
They also reported that they try to conduct at least one enforcement operation in the South Patrol area each month to deter “sideshows” that too often attract violent crime and shootings.
Officers said beefed up enforcement activity is starting to bear fruit, noting that they have begun seeing social media posts by participants after enforcement actions saying they aren’t coming back.
They also said police are hoping to see state legislation passed to stiffen the penalties for “sideshow” participation, particularly for repeat offenders.