Leaves One Dead,
Officer Uninjured
At
about 8:10 P.M. Saturday night, 04-18-2020, a man entered Wal-Mart, 10300 East
350 Highway, armed with a gun. A Raytown Police Officer encountered the man and
shots were fired. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was not
injured.
The officer
was placed on routine administrative leave. Raytown Police requested that the
Missouri State Highway Patrol conduct the investigation.
Crime
and Police
Activity Overview
BY GREG WALTERS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Police blotter
reports are usually columns of boring statistics. The week of April 5th
through April 9th had a change from the usual reporting. The five
incidents reported below had interesting details.
We also
note this particular report was published under the name of the Robert Kuehl,
Raytown’s new Chief of Police.
The reader
can draw their own conclusions from the narrative of the reports. From our
point of view, the transparency demonstrated in the reports is welcome news of
the good variety for Raytown.
APRIL
5TH – 11:45 AM: Officers were dispatched to a
carjacking in the area of 350 Hwy and Raytown Rd. The victim reported that a
stranger walked up to his car while he was stopped at a red light, displayed a
handgun and forced him out of the car. Officers located video surveillance from
several locations which does not support the victim’s story. The investigation
is ongoing.
APRIL
5TH – 10:30 PM: Officers were dispatched to a gas
station in the 5200 block of Blue Ridge Cutoff regarding a robbery in the
parking lot. The male victim reported that two unknown subjects stole his
motorcycle at gunpoint and forced his girlfriend to leave with them. Several
hours later, officers located the suspect vehicle, stolen motorcycle, and the
female at a residence in Raytown. She refused to speak with officers about the
incident and both she and the male victim declined to prosecute.
APRIL
8TH – 3:05 AM: Officers were dispatched to a residence
in the 5300 block of Willow regarding a shooting. One adult male was shot in
the leg during a confrontation with another party. One subject was arrested at
the scene. The investigation is ongoing.
APRIL
9TH – 11:50 PM: Officers were dispatched to a residence
in the 10900 block of 62nd Terrace regarding shots fired. The resident reported
that her boyfriend was drunk and angry and had fired multiple rounds from a
shotgun while inside the residence. No one was struck or injured.
 |
| BY PAUL LIVIUS |
Three Aldermen Vie
for Mayor Pro-tem Position
In the first meeting in April of each year the Raytown
Board of Aldermen meet and cast votes for who will serve as President of the
Board or, as it is often referred to, Mayor Pro-tem.
The position of Mayor Pro-tem is somewhat similar to that
of a Vice President. If need be, that person will take the position of Mayor
should the current Mayor be unable to attend a meeting. Typically this means
the Mayor Pro-tem will run the meeting. Should the Mayor become unable to
perform his duties as the Chief Executive Officer of the City, the Mayor
Pro-tem will serve the remainder of the Mayor’s term.*
Normally the choosing of Mayor Pro-tem is a dull matter.
More often than not, the votes are unanimous.
This year there are three Aldermen who have let it be known
they would be willing serve.
Those members are Ward 4 Alderman Mary Jane VanBuskirk,
Ward 5 Alderman Derek Ward, and, Ward 5 Alderman Bonnaye Mims.
Bonnaye Mims currently holds the position of Mayor
Pro-Tem.
Some Aldermen have voiced their opinion that the position
should be moved each year. It is, in fact, rare for a Board member serve consecutive
terms as Mayor Pro-Tem.
All but three members on the Raytown Board of Aldermen
have served as Mayor Pro-Tem. Those members are Frank Hunt, Mary Jane
VanBuskirk and Derek Ward.
Sources close to Raytown City Hall tell us Alderman Hunt
has expressed no interest in serving as Mayor Pro-Tem.
The only two members of the Board showing interest who
have not served are VanBuskirk and Ward.
Members of the Board of Aldermen are being very
tight-lipped on who their choice is for Pro-tem. The winning candidate must
receive at least six votes from the Board of Aldermen to win the position. All
three have the credentials for holding the seat.
*Just because a Mayor
is not attending meetings does not mean he does not continue his role as Mayor.
Alderman Greg Walters was serving as Mayor Pro-Tem when Jack Nesbitt was Mayor.
The Mayor was unable to attend the last three meetings of his term. Walters
filled in and ran the meetings. During this time Nesbitt continued his duties
as Mayor of the City of Raytown.
10 comments:
Where do you go to see the "expanded" version of the police blotter?
I just see the daily incident reports on their website.
https://piorpd.wordpress.com/category/daily-police-blotter/
Thanks
So it's Mayor Pro-Tem time. Interesting process. A position that under current Mayor rarely requires that person to stand in for him to conduct BOA meetings (has not missed one in his term to date) or attend functions in his abscence. Guy is tireless in his efforts to represent the City.
The "process" I mentioned and refused to participate in when I was one of 2 Alderman up for the position was this. I guess according to one sitting Alderman at the time I was expected to call my fellow Alderman and basically lobby for the position and ask for my fellow Alderman support and vote. Well I wasn't going to participate in that nonsense and told my fellow Alderman to not expect a call from me. If my fellow Alderman didn't feel I would be a good representative with the communication and leadership skills necessary to serve the position so be it. I was told by that same Alderman after the voting since I didn't call him he voted for the other Alderman. Enough about the ridiculous process.
If the baton is passed from current Mayor Pro-Tem Bonnaye Mims whoever gets that position I will caution. While I mentioned earlier a couple of the basic responsobilities that this position could require there is a underlying task and skillset that you either possess or don't. Respect and leadership. Ability to rise up in the community even when you are not serving in the role of Mayor Pro-Tem. Maybe have the Mayor's ear and have him consider a "different viewpoint". Many skills are required to be a very effective servant in that role. Alderman Mims has been nothing short of fantastic
and has a widespread level of community and Metro wide respect not in only how she approaches her Alderman role but serving as Mayor Pro-Tem as well. Good luck candidates. The bar has been raised pretty high!!
Do you get a different report than the rest of us? I ask because my reports still come from Officer Nicole Growney. Nowhere does the new police chief's name show up. In fact, today's report looks exactly like the report issued 60 days ago.
In answer to questions about where I received the information regarding the five short expanded reports of police calls . . . I copied them from the City Administrator's Weekly Report from the Raytown Chief of Police. I told him I thought many people in Raytown would find those items extremely interesting. The details shows explain some of the twists and turns of some police calls.
In case you are wondering, I specifically asked for and received permission to reprint the stories.
Alderman VanBuskirk and Alderman Ward are impeccably qualified individuals.
We thank Alderman Mims for her service, however it's vital to select a new candidate with a fresh outlook, in our opinion.
I have to agree. Alderman MJ VanBuskirk and Aldermen Ward would a good choice either way. The bad think about someone who continually holds an appointed position is they begin to think they are more important than everyone else. I think the more experience our Aldermen get they become a better governing body. All but three of the Board have served as Mayor Pro Tem. Ms. Mims has already had heard turn. That leave Frank Hunt, who says he does not want the job. The only two left are MJ VanBuskirk and Ward. I say flip a coin between those two. Either the way the City ends up a winner.
When former alderman Ryan Myers was mayor pro tem he turned it over to Mims, he said he wanted a second term but realized it wasnt meant to be a dynasty.
MJ VB has only a year of experience, and although she could be a great fit in the coming years with the challenges ahead perhaps someone with a couple more years would be beneficial.
Ward on the other hand seems open minded, and is a studious alderman asking poignant questions others would never think of and keeping the city from falling into even more legal issues.
I watched last nights meeting. Mary Jane VanBuskirk showed us once again that she has heart. I believe she genuinely cares for the people of Raytown. She talked last night about how people of my generation would rather go hungry than look for a hand out she won my support. She hit the nail right on head. She understands people. Compare this to the other candidates. One of them gives long speeches that amount to nothing more than “look at me and how smart I am”. The other one shows little interest.
M.J. you have my support.
"Mary Jane VanBuskirk...talked last night about how people of my generation would rather go hungry.."
Nailed it! She says what needs to be said, and she doesn't mince words. I really enjoy listening to her speak.
Unfortunately, some elected Raytown officials, and this includes even ones who serve a Mayor Pro Tem, have neglected to respond to us over time when we have attempted to contact them. Leads us to believe that they don’t really value their constituents, although they regularly shout from the rooftops that they do. They do appear to enjoy attending each and every social and civic event as well as regularly hobnobbing with County and State elected officials, however. If such elected officials continue to be completely unresponsive to the citizens in their Ward, they have no business in office. My neighbors have had the same experience.
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