The force was so corrupt that the state siezed control of it as the Pendergast era began to wane. It took them so long because the state capitol building used to be refered to as "Uncle Tom's Cabin" it was so under the sway and influence of Tom Pendergast. History books say he ran the ultimate political machine; he out-Tammanied Tammany hall.
Once Jeff City broke free, they reined in Pendergasts' thugs, aka the KC Ploice Department. These guys made Chicago cops look like choir-boys, back in the day. And apparently they haven't improved all that much. Jeff City still exerts a great deal of control over the local KCMO police, especially their budget, and stories like this are not uncommon in the local media:
Northland KC police officer given probation for misdemeanor child abuse
By BILL GRAHAM
The Kansas City Star
A Kansas City police officer convicted of misdemeanor child abuse was placed on one year’s probation Wednesday and given a suspended imposition of sentence, officials said.
Mark E. Reed, 46, also was ordered by Judge Joseph Locascio to attend anger management and parenting classes, said Bernard Schneider, Municipal Court administrator. Reed is not to disturb, molest or assault the victim, who is a relative, Schneider said.
Reed was convicted on the charge in August. A police report said that on Nov. 17, 2005, Reed had thrown a 10-year-old boy on the floor and began to choke him because he had not completed a task. The boy had swelling, bruises and lacerations on his face after the incident, according to the police report.
Reed, who has lived and worked in the Northland, was not on duty as a police officer when the incident happened. He could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
An attorney who represented him in the case, Cecil Williams, declined to comment Wednesday.
A suspended imposition of sentence means Reed’s conviction may be removed from his record if he successfully completes his probation term.
Reed’s supervisors in the Kansas City Police Department will conduct a review of the incident to see whether any internal action is warranted, said Capt. Rich Lockhart, a department spokesman.
Reed remains on normal duty with the Shoal Creek Patrol Division, Lockhart said.
I don't know, maybe I'm naive, but I would think seven decades would be long enough to get a handle on the corruption, and I also think that any cop who abuses a kid has violated the public trust to a degree that we can not trust him or her. This guy is on regular duty - that means he has a gun - and he is sentenced to anger management classes.
I have a problem with this.
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