Chapter II: KCTV-5 versus Indy PD

Update, post-broadcast: My $0.02: Independence police were very unprofessional; Greg Slate probably slammed his own head; Chief Fred Mills compounded the lack of professionalism by refusing to explain what happened.

Steelblues, was this the whole Indy PD video? Where is the obscene language? It's amazing to me no one tried to ameliorate the situation by offering Slate any other manner of help - maybe a phone number or - heaven forbid - by giving out the form.

I'm not carrying water for KCTV-5 or its type of journalism. But police, like reporters and everyone else, are on a continuum from best to worst. I think Independence police - with whom I've had excellent relations and experienced good openness - fumbled this one from start to finish.

ORIGINAL POST:
Email the other day from a reader who works at the Indy PD:
Dear Mr. Reeves,
You may already know, but in case you do not, Channel 5 will air the video of Mr. Slate's altercation at the Independence Police Department on Thursday April 27th at 10:00 pm. I hope that what you see is from the IPD video cams and not the cam that Mr. Slate was wearing, as the cam Mr. Slate was wearing may not show what actually happened.
Steelblues

This involves an incident late last month in which a national group that investigates abusive police tactics sent a decoy into Independence police HQ.

Background:
Chapter 1: KCTV-5 versus Indy PD (earlier post)
Aaron Barnhart's excellent roundup

Story logo used by permission of KCTV-5.

PLEASE NOTE:

Some new rules for commenting.
1. Comments must be signed. Unsigned comments will be deleted.
2. Comments signed as someone other than the writer will be deleted.
3. No profanity or vulgarity; no racially abusive or offensive speech.
4. THINK before you comment and please stay on topic.

Thanks,
Greg Reeves

Comments

[J Bills]

I loved the investigative piece by KCTV 5. According to the broadcast, the desk clerk and 2 other IPD officers falsified the police report that was filed on this incident. If not for the Freedom of Information Act where KCTV 5 obtained the surveillance video and the hidden camera and mic 80% of the viewing audience would have believed what IPD employees alleged. Where is the City/County Prosector? The professional conduct of all involved at IPD is a joke. The lack of leadership starting with the Mayor's office (a former officer)is where it all starts.

I also love how KCTV timed the release of this investigative report just days after several questionable police chases. One that resulted in the injury of an innocent victim in KC. I encourage all to listen to the Carjacking police chase that occurred last Sat. I heard the MO HWY patrol, KCPD, but no IPD leadership. Learn when to take a loss, before innocent people get hurt.

JBILLS

[taylor]

After watching the tape I wonder why the guy was even arrested? He had at no point broken any law. He didn't disobey the cops lawful order to leave. The key here being a lawful order. It wasn't lawful. Just because the Sgt. told him to leave doesn't make it a lawful demand by the officer. Way to many cops have the "GOD SYNDROME" just because they literally have the power of life and death, they believe, when they put the badge and gunbelt on. I'm sure Dr. Freud had some example for such behavior! There was absolutely no reason for the cop to get physical with the guy and such a lack of professionalism is scary when the Sgt. in charge is a thug and an abusive bully. As for setting up the police, if there are no checks and balances on the very people we entrust to protect us then we deserve the treatment we get. This is an example of a public servant abusing his power and he should be dismissed.

[John Boy]

They just good old boys, never meaning no harm hee hee hee hee

[plattecohighschooler]

man, this is why i watch channel nine and four. they must be really bored, high, or desparate if they're dissin the fuzz at channel 5

[W!]

I'm just catching up on some of these comments. To address the earlier comment about how this is no different than the police setting up a prostitution sting. That is not accurate. I am very familiar with how the prostitution stings are run (I have been involved in 50+ of them). The "John" (suspect) must make a deal for a specific sex act for a specific amount of money. If they don't make the deal - then they are never even stopped. In this case, this group went to the Indep PD with the specific purpose of trying to create an incident. As I've said (and I think someone else verified it), many of us in local Law Enforcement were warned SEVERAL DAYS before this incident that KCTV would be trying to "set up" a police agency, and that a person would try to get arrested and (and I'm quoting exactly what I was told here)"ram their head into the wall or glass and claim that the police did it to them" (we were specifically told that the person would try to get arrested - then once in jail do this so when they were released they could claim they were beat). This is practically exactly what this guy did. He saw his opportunity (the officer trying to place him in custody), and forced his own head into the wall. This was a complete and total setup from the start.

They can talk about going to other police agencies - but the crux of the story from the start was that they came to KC specifically to investigate Indep PD. That leads me to believe that they would have kept going back (even if they got the form the first time), until the story came out the way they wanted. I would be curious to know how many other people were sent in prior to this guy - who didn't have a problem?

That's my biggest issue with this story.... we are only hearing a small fraction of what actually occured.

I too am very curious to hear more about the claims of the medical treatment the guy received. It sounds like KCTV was stating things that didn't happen to sensationalize their story.

And Greg, I noticed you deleted my line about "BB". This unfortunately affirms my suspicion that this blog is not an "open" forum for folks to discuss legitimate issues. I think you should make it clear that any comments that disagree with the editorial stance of the KC Star will be removed. It is quite unfortunate that a blog which has gained as much popularity so quickly as this one cannot be a place for the public to discuss legitimate news stories. Once again - the media protecting its' own.

[plattecohighschooler]

not all cops are like this
duh.
the press is an est. too.
think for yourself
don't be a whore for the man.

[michael oates]

I think W.'s comment that KCPD were warned that the set-up was coming and that the agent would hurt himself then blamed it on the police needs to be investigated. Was it an official warning, who else can corroborate the warning, who issued the warning, where did he get his info from, etc.

Basically W. i think you are lying.

[Tom]

As to the comment posted concerning the Edwardsville PD, the cop's name who was recently fired is Jeff Cheek. Anyone else remember a cop named Cheek? Wasn't he a cop in Kansas city, KS? Is this the same Cheek tried for murder and convicted of manslaughter, and who did prison time, for killing a black security guard in KC, KS?

[plattecohighschooler]

w, get over it. hes the blogmaster, he owns. thats the way it works...

[W!]

Michael,

You can accuse me of lying all you want. If you look back several weeks - when this incident first happened - I even made reference to this in one of the original threads on this issue. I believe if you look up - there is another poster that said he/she heard about his.

I specifically heard this from my Sergeant, who was informed that a Jackson County deputy had been tipped off by someone working for KCTV-5. So, there IS someone at KCTV with a conscious.

There was no "official" memo put out, but if you ask around - about 30 of the officers working at CPD (KCMO Central Patrol) were tipped Thursday night about this.

[plattecohighschooler]

imagine the anarchy if he didn't... :-)=

[lonell]

I don't like those Independence Police Officers and I think they should change their pursuit policy!

- Lonell

[A]

Taylor- "He didnt disobey the cops lawful order to leave."

How many times did the Sarge say "Get out of my station, we are done here"? I ll have to watch it tape again but I seem to remember at least 3 times he was told to leave and didn't. That is disobedience in my book.

I disagree with the Sarge's attitude and handling of the situation, I thought he was totally out of line and should have just handed the form over and went about his night, but then again the jackass with the microphone saw his opportunity and took advantage. They were both responsible for a poorly handled situation, and the guy should have rammed his head a little harder into the glass. That small bump he opened up on his head wasn't worth the effort he put into it.

[art]

First I think it’s important to note KCTV 5 did not show the entire video, from his encounter with the desk person to his arrest and it appears the video, HAS BEEN EDITED.

I think it’s also important to notice the demeanor of Slate at the Independence Police Department compared to his contacts at the other Police Departments.

If Slate went into other police departments on his best behavior and then entered IPD with intent on causing a disturbance and to be arrested then I don't think you can accurately compare his various encounters.

However it might appear that he received a very different greeting by IPD if the contacts were grouped together as they were.

This would give a very unrealistic and biased comparison, which I’m sure, was KCTV 5 intent in their continued witch hunt of the Independence Police Department.

[denise]

Patric, maybe you’re a law abiding citizen, but is your daughter?

Perhaps, she has had previous law enforcement contacts that you’re unaware of.

[superman]

I was suprised more officers did not join in with taser's, yelling "stop resisting!" Like they do on cops. Look at how high the officer has the guy's hand behind his back. Now do this to somebody you know and walk them toward's the wall. I'll bet they get a bump on they're head too. They will go wherever you want with very little effort by you.

[Harry Paratestes]

The IPD got exactly what they deserve. If the staff on duty followed thier own policy there would have been no story.

KCTV 5 did nothing wrong. It's our job as citizen to keep the government honest.

(Hi Harry: I appreciate your comments on this blog and I hope it's not asking too much to ask you to change your nick, in keeping with the new rules. Thanks, Greg Reeves)

[A]

I agree with your point that we need to keep our government honest, but does going to the police station and causing a scene help matters or make them worse?

[Harry Paratestes]

Sometimes things must get worse before they can get better. The police made the choice to make this worse not the public.

(Hi Harry: I appreciate your comments on this blog and I hope it's not asking too much to ask you to change your nick, in keeping with the new rules. How about just Harry? Thanks, Greg Reeves)

[A]

Yeah the cop had attitude but dude didn't need to get one back and slam him head in the window.

Sorry, not the cops fault. He was refused service and caused a scene. Whats not to understand about that?

[Patric]

Just to clarify. I was not the one who posted the comment about a daughter. I do not have a daughter. You need to look at the "posted by:" name at the end of each post, not at the beginning.

I noticed several people are getting confused by who posted what.... just wanted to clarify.

Thank you.

[sasquach]

A, he never should have been refused service. The form was in sight and the cop refused to give it. If their policy requires an interview to hand out a form, then that is a rather inefficient use of a shift sargents time.

[big cock gay thumbnail]

There are too many, not enough handicapped parking spaces in our city

[order isogenix]

These kind of acts make me sad, because i know deep inside that many officers do their work in a good manner always following the right procedure and now thanks to a set up all of this reputation goes down. :(