2005 Murder Rate

Kansas City is in the middle of a crisis. The city of Kansas City, MO has seen more murders this year then any other year. I think at last count, just for the city limits of Kansas City, MO it was near 110. Most of these are senseless murders. Drive by's, gang related, domestic violence, etc. We have watched the numbers creep up all year. And I really don't see that much being done about it. Part of the problem is, people aren't talking. Someone is murdered and people are keeping quiet for fear of their life. The city can't even temp people with money. Each time there is a murder, the opportunity of $1000 is given if someone will give information that leads to an arrest. We live at the edge of the city, so we don't see that many crimes around here. But we have also watched the crime creep south, closer and closer to where we live. It is getting scary. We usually don't go out after dark, and if we do, we make sure we are not alone. You just never know.

I grew up in Leawood, KS. Leawood is a posh city just across the state line. (The Kansas City Meteropolitan area makes up cities both in Kansas and Missouri) It is here (Leawood) where the Chiefs players live, the Royals players live and anyone with money. Not only is it a safe city, but it has excellent schools. It's the kind of city where your kids can play in the front yard and you don't have to have your eye on them all the time.

This week it was revealed that the police officers in Leawood had started a "Murder Pool". They were putting in money and betting on how many murders the city of Kansas City, MO would have for 2005. I find this deeply disturbing. It has been a huge scandel this week. The mayor of Leawood made a public announcement yesterday talking about her disgust in the workers, etc. Watching this announcement made me even more deeply concerened for the city of Leawood. The mayor did a horrible job publicly speaking about what was going on right under her nose. She was reading from a piece of paper and never once looked up. It made me ashamed that I was raised in Leawood.

Innoncent people are dying. What about that does the people of Leawood not understand? They don't live in a bubble city where they aren't effected by crime. Just over two years ago a 19 year old lifeguard was murdered at a pool in Leawood. Don't get me wrong, I think it was horrible that this girl was murdered. But you would have thought this was one of the worst disaseters that hit KC.

110 people have been killed for NO reason in Kansas City, MO. We need to wake up and start speaking up. THE SILENCE IS KILLING US!