KCPD's recap of the Plaza incident

KCPD has a post about the matter on the chief's blog, viewable here, as well as a more detailed report from a police captain. The police plan to meet with Plaza businesses, the NAACP and others to put together a plan. You really should read that more detailed report.

From the chief's blog:

Due to larger crowds of juveniles there the previous (Easter) weekend, we put an extra 18 officers and three sergeants to patrol the Plaza this past weekend. The activity began when about 200-300 juveniles exited the Cinemark theater and began to move east. More juveniles joined them, though officers said most did not drive. They were either dropped off by parents or arrived by bus. Not until after the incident did police learn the gathering may have been planned on social media sites. Police believe there were about 700 total juveniles involved, ages 11 to 17.

From the captain's report:

One of the largest obstacles for the officers was catching up to suspects or juveniles observed creating problems due to the large crowds. Another problem observed was the fact most of them were under 17 years of age and the majority of the problems were prior to midnight, therefore; we did not have any charges that JJC would accept. Although 3 or 4 strong armed robberies were reported only one victim was located. It was also reported that a male was drug in an alley and being beat up but he could not be located.

Comments

[killemall]

This is the exact reason I put my kids on a plane and sent them back to Russia, I didn't want to have to take them and drop them off at the Plaza every weekend.

[Nate]

WHERE ARE THESE KID's PARENTS????

[gee]

Driving away after dropping them off . . .

[Marvin]

Or, still at work at their 2nd or 3rd job.

[PeaceNKC]

Someone made a good point about complaining without offering solutions. So:We need to press Cinemark to reestablish an 18 or older age limit for all late shows, unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Also the city needs to modify or adopt current curfew laws. Specify certain zones that prohibit anyone under 18 after 10 or 11PM. Also establish some type of mandatory "community improvement classes" and or fines/local community service for families (offending children and the parents who are supposed to be parenting them) that are repeat offenders.

[Tom K]

I liked being confined to the house, miserable, lonely and bored, when I was a teenager. If it was good enough for me it's good enough for them.

[Tom Servo]

Does the Plaza have any occupancy limitations that could be used to help curb the problem?

[Searching]

The police plan to meet with Plaza businesses, the NAACP and others to put together a plan.

So, what was all that on the last blog about it being racist to mention they were black? It is such a black problem,that the racist organization, the NAACP, has to get involved to make sure the rules are special..you know.. cause their black.

Set the curfew to 9:30 on the plaza and taser any punks left, that ought to solve the problem.
Special enough for you?

[Dboy]

there gonna do it again with all this media coverage. they have nothing better to do... they already ruined ward parkway mall, so somebody better do something before they get the plaza to

[cripjak]

Or, still at work at their 2nd or 3rd job.

Posted by: Marvin

In your dreams. Maybe their 2nd or 3rd crack house.

[Searching]

Well, if they do it again, I am afraid this time there will be a bigger police presence and a lot more trouble.

[Searching]

LOL JAK!

[bimby]

Kids these days...

[You're a Mean Drunk R2D2™]

I was actually there that night with family that was in town visiting. We wanted to show them what a nice place KC was and decided to go there. BIG MISTAKE.

I'm not saying anything racist, but I got a little tired hearing "Hey cracker, what the F*(^ are you doing in our hood". Not to mention "Whitey" and them saying crap about my fiance and guests.

We didn't stay there very long and ended up just going home after that.

Maybe what they should do is force every single black punk kid and adult to attend classes on how to behave like a normal adult. I'm sad that the police just didn't open fire on all of those soon to be criminals. Yes, I know, I must be racist because I approve of them eliminating all those punk kids.

They were a mob, and they should be treated more fiercely with the next time. Hopefully the Plaza will do what P&L does and enforce a dress code to keep the gang bangers out of the area.

That said, I'm never ever going to the plaza again at night. Not until they block off the area and make sure everyone is an adult and not dressed like a gangbanger.

[Marvin]

cripjak,

Good to see you learned everything you know about sociology from a Limbaugh rant.

[Patty PV]

Let's see: The NAACP is racist, and the adult black community frequents two or three crack houses a night. The things I learn on the blog . . .

I have a question. Everyone is keen on making rules and regs to make sure this kids are told not to do this, not to do that. Why hasn't anyone in the community stepped up to sponsor something appropriate that these teens CAN do on the weekends?

[Patty PV]

R2: I am so sorry. You are the first person I know who was there with a first-hand report. I would not have wanted to be there.

A change in rules is needed, and still I think there needs to be something to do in KC that will attract kids in a positive way.

Any ideas?

[You're a Mean Drunk R2D2™]

There are things for them to do in a positive way. Although they aren't exactly "cool" in their eyes, there are lots of things to do.

When I was a teenager we didn't have much to do since I lived in a small farming community. We sometimes did things that we shouldn't have, but never went around harassing and assaulting people. If we could find things to do in a small town, they can find plenty of constructive things to do in a big city.

[Charles Bronson]

Conceal & carry! Blast those punks if they step up on you and your family!

[Jo Jo]

Yeah, Patty, I have a novel, far-fetched idea. The schools are filled with all kinds of constructive activities. Why the F don't these little turds focus their efforts a litle more strongly toward their own schools and school-sponsored extracurricular activites?

R2, sorry about your horrific experience. Hopefully your visitors didn't take that night as a representative example of how nice a place KC really is. For comparison's sake, you could point out that every major city has a complex sewer system, but that doesn't mean the city consists of only sewers.

[Searching]

mansfield, I hope you are joking. You know there were black families on the plaza trying to enjoy dinner and a little walking around that night?

[rhonda]

Wow. The comments on this thread are really awful. James must not have stayed up all night to keep people in line. Please don't paint every person of a race with the same brush because of the actions of a few.

I also sympathize with R2. I can't imagine how I would feel if I had experienced what you describe. I agree that the police and Plaza security need to get together to make some plans and be very sure this doesn't happen again.

I work on the Plaza so I feel a little bit of ownership, though I'm not often here on weekend evenings. This morning, however, I saw graffiti in our newly painted parking garage and it just made me sad.

[rhonda]

Thanks, James, for removing at least one of the more egregious posts.

[Jason]

I don't care what color they are, nobody better assault me or my wife, spit on me, push me into a fountain, etc. The issue here is harrassment that is unacceptable. It was lawlessness. I do have my conceal/carry permit as the previous blogger eluded to and I'm glad I was'nt down there because I don't know how I would have handled any physical assaults.

[Wade]

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS - this will help future generations of law abiding citizens from suffering the same fate when visiting the Plaza.

[jen]

You guys talking about needing things to do...Do yourself a favor and volunteer or teach at an inner-city school for a month. You'll quickly understand that we're talking about thugs, not just "teens," which has a nice, Archie-and-Jughead type ring.