Sunday, May 18, 2025

MORE TROUBLE AT COLMAN

Raytown Police shut down park one hour before curfew 

Raytown Police were called to Colman Park in response to calls for help from neighbors surrounding the park last Friday evening. Neighbors of the park say events were getting out of hand. Many said that an individual was speeding recklessly up and down the north end of Lane Street around 9:30 p.m. in the evening. Others complained of “out of control activity and noise coming from the park.

Five Police Cars from the Raytown Police Department showed a little before 10:00 p.m. Police informed individuals in the park through a loud speaker that they were closing the park down effective immediately. The warning from the Police told people acting up in the park that if they did not leave immediately, their cars would be towed.

Neighbors of the Park say they were pleased with the swift response and action by the Police.Colman Park, as with all Raytown Parks, normally has curfew of 11:00 p.m. The Police action at Colman effectively closed the park at 10:00 p.m.

One neighbor of the Park told the Raytown Report she was really impressed by the response of the Police Department.

“Not one shot was fired by anyone in the area, but things were getting out of hand. The five police cars showing up at one time sent a clear message. This is a neighborhood park for families  . . .  not for the nonsense that has been going on.”

Independence Police shut down Carnival

Raytown was not the only City facing unrest at a popular gathering space.

Over 50 police officers from the Independence Police Department respond to dangerous activity at a Carnival being held at Independence Center.

KMBC CHANNEL NINE broadcast the following report about the incident.

Nine people were arrested after a large disturbance involving hundreds of teens broke out Saturday night during a carnival outside the Independence Center mall. Officers with the Independence Police Department were called around 8 p.m. to the mall parking lot. Security there requested the mall be closed early for the safety of staff and patrons. As officers helped disperse the crowd, multiple large fights broke out in the parking lot, leading to a metro-wide call for assistance.

Officers from Kansas City, Sugar Creek, Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Raytown, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the scene. Eight juveniles and one adult were arrested, police said. Eight of the suspects are from Kansas City, and one is from Raytown. No injuries were reported, and police said no shots were fired.

Use the following link to view the video:

https://www.kmbc.com/article/independence-center-carnival-disturbance-teen-arrests-june-21-2025/65148119


Park Board Meeting Report 

BY GREG WALTERS
The Raytown Park Board held a rare Public meeting for homeowners living near Colman Park to hear concerns on recent gun violence at Colman Park.at 2 a.m. on June 9 a large crowd of gun wielding individuals in cars fired an estimated 200 rounds of gunshot into the air from over 60 vehicles driving in a long procession through Colman Park 2:00 a.m. in the morning.

Raytown Parks and Recreation Parks Director, Dave Turner, told attendees at the meeting the Park Board has decided to make security changes at Colman to tackle the uptick of trouble at one of Raytown’s most popular parks.

Lane Street is a two lane street with a north/south trajectory in Colman Park. It is the only park in Raytown that has two entrances. The hilly straight away attracts individuals who have used the public street at Colman Park as a race track and a place for side showsTurner told those in attendance that they have installed speed bumps on the north end of Lane Street and intend to install on the south end as well. Homeowners living near the park agree the installation   of speed bumps has effectively stopped the reckless driving.

Turner also spoke of plans to install monitors in shelter houses that would turn electricity to shelter house off when sound levels reach an unacceptable decibel level. A date for installation has yet to be set. Neighbors within two city blocks of the park say they are unable to enjoy their own back yards because of the excessive noise from disc jockeys and loud music coming from the park.

Turner said plans were in place to use private security patrols at Colman Park on weekends during summer months. Those in attendance at the meeting were pleased with the planned changes in security at the park. Though many of them repeatedly told the Park Board the real solution would be to gate the park and close it down during curfew hours on a year round basis.

How We See It . . .

BY PAUL LIVIUS
Monday night’s public meeting of the Raytown Park Board was an interesting study of Democracy in action. In many ways it harkens back to the old days in small communities of Town Hall Meetings. Everyone from the public had a chance to speak. Other than a few words from the Chairman of the Meeting, acting President Robbie Tubbs, none of the Park Board members joined in the discussion.

Recognition is due Park Board Director Dave Turner, who did an excellent job of laying the improvements the Park Department has already begun putting into action.

Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters and a neighbor of the park, Jim DeLong, also deserve to be recognized for very effectively bringing the meeting to the Public’s attention. The fact that a good sized crowd of people came and expressed their thoughts publicly clearly shows the meeting was a success.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Ward 2 Alderman Loretha Hayden, Police Chief Bob Kuehl and City Administrator and City Administrator Diane Egger. Jim DeLong, whose property abuts the park, was key in distributing literature to neighborhoods with news of the Park Board Public Meeting.  

Approximately two dozen speakers addressed the Park Board. Alderman Walters and Park Board Director Dave Turner were the only city officials who spoke at the meeting.

Walters told the Park Board, “Had locked gates been in place at Colman Park on June 9th, there would not have been any gunfire that morning.

It is interesting to note that no one disagreed with his comment.


. . . BREAKING NEWS . . .

Multiple gun shots fired at Colman Park

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Monday morning neighborhoods surrounding Colman Park were awakened by multiple gun shots.

After meeting with the Park Board Director and numerous Raytown homeowners surrounding the park we have decided to release the information we have gathered.

Neighbors surrounding Colman Park lit up the Police Dispatcher screens early Monday morning with reports of heavy gunfire of multiple calibers strength fired at the Park.

Neighbors of the Park told the Raytown Report they were awakened by the gunfire. Many feared the worst. In the last six years there have been two murders at Colman Park.

Video recorded by surveillance cameras at Colman Park showed approximately 60 vehicles entered the park between 1:30 and 2:00 o’clock after midnight.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. hundreds of gunshots were fired into the air on west side of the park. Shortly afterward, most of those firing the shots left the scene.

The Raytown Police arrived to investigate. To our knowledge there have not been any arrests for firing, or, firing shots in the air. Both activities which are against City Ordinances and State Law in Missouri, commonly known as Blair's Law, named after the tragic killing of a girl due to celebraitly gunfire a Fourth of July Holiday..

The next morning, Park employees, on their routine of cleaning the park found numerous spent cartridge shells in the park.

Jim DeLong, a neighbor of Colman Park since 1983, summed up  his thoughts on the situation.

“Those people brought weapons of mass destruction into our back yards. This is a direct threat to everyone’s public safety and property. The City has a responsibility to maintain safety in our neighborhoods.

City Hall and especially the Police, need to step up and enforce the laws already on the books.

One simple solution is to lock the park down, and, if needed, man it with security or police to guarantee this nightmare does not happen again.

Anything less is not acceptable and puts Raytown citizens at risk. It is clear that ignoring working towards a solution is not option.”


The following comments from Facebook sources were shared with us by one of our regular readers.


STEPHANIE HOLLO wrote on Raytown Unleashed . . . I agree with this statement our house faces where they hang out (by the trees). it was more than one gun and lots of cars. Police showed up FAST. Not sure how to secure our parks better as nothing good happens at 2am!

RHAYA MITCHELL wrote . . . I thought I was trippin! I knew I heard gunshots and what sounded like someone returning fire.


PAM PERKINS ANNEN wrote . . . I heard it too. 2:00 a.m.

JUSTIN PICOLET wrote . . . Heard a second round of gunfire about 20 minutes later, then another round of shots close to 3:00 a.m. I was able to capture the gunshots closer to Blue Ridge and 63rd Street.

ANONYMOUS wrote . . . There was more than one officer. Less than 5 minutes after it was called in, two police cars showed up, with several additional police cars following close behind.

It seems that this park has become a gathering place for people after 11pm. I’m concerned that there could be another murder there if there’s nothing done.

There’s a Park Board meeting next Monday at 7 pm. It’s been moved to City Hall so there’s more room for the public to attend. I’m hoping to hear some positive plans to stop this destructive behavior.


To quote Max Smart

of "Get Smart" fame

"Missed us by that much!"


Photos are of two tornados in the Raytown area
taken last Tuesday afternoon. One near the Truman Sports Complex and another southeast of Raytown.  

Our Memorial Day Tribute

Memorial Day's origins can be traced back to the Civil War  which resulted in the deaths of over 600,000 soldiers. To honor the fallen, communities began decorating their graves with flowers, and the practice became increasingly common. The first Memorial Day was observed on May 30, 1868. At that time it was called "Decoration Day". As time went on Memorial Day became a Holiday for all those who served our country in the armed services.

Shoes on the Danube

America is not the only country to honor their dead. "Shoes on the Danube Bank" gives remembrance to 3,500 people who were shot on the bank of the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary during World War II. The victims were told to remove their shoes. They were then shot. Their bodies thrown into the Danube so the tide would carry them away. The shoes, which were valuable items in World War II, were gathered up and sold. 

The sculptor created sixty pairs of period-appropriate shoes out of iron. The shoes are attached to the stone embankment. Behind them lies a 40-meter-long, 70 cm high stone bench. At three points are cast iron signs, with the following text in Hungarian, English, and Hebrew: "To the memory of the victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944–1945. Erected 16 April 2005."


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

A beautiful picture of the oncoming storm! Kudos to the photographer!

Anonymous said...

I like the idea of speed humps in Raytown neighborhoods. I have relatives that live in the Brookside neighborhoods just south of the Plaza. They have speed humps on many of their streets. They really like the speed humps. They say it has eliminated the speed in their neighborhoods. If it works there it will work in Raytown.

I heard the Mayor is opposed to having speed humps in Raytown. I know everyone has an opinion, but his nay-saying is not a good direction for Raytown.

Anonymous said...

The mayor doesn't think speed bumps will work. First, the speed bumps are someone else's idea. Second, he might have to do something. When he says something won't work, you're hearing it from an expert. I want speed bumps!

Anonymous said...

Careful guys. The Mayor does not appreciate anyone criticizing him. If you make him too angry he might even throw his gavel at you!

Anonymous said...

I used to live in Brooksisde. There are speed bumps all over that area in Kansas City. It was nice. There was not ANY SPEEDING because of the speed bumps. Compare that to Raytown where it seems like the normal behavior is to see how fast a car can go anywhere, anytime.

If someone wants to do something positive for Raytown, this would be the way to go.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of gun fire I have had more people in Raytown bring me bullets they have found on their property. It is getting scary the way people believe firing a gun in the air randomly is not going to result in the damage of property or potential loss of life. The police continue to turn a blind eye and make excuses even after now being fully staffed. Our President is ready to call up the National guard to many cities across our Nation, but our own Governor has decided like our police chief to careless about human life. The oddity is a Governor can activate the guard in their own state and in MO the city of Kansas City police department is under the Governor of Missouri. This means the criminal problem in Missouri is because the Governor of Missouri refuses to do the right thing and save lives. Now if you don't think some of our own shootings are not from people who live in Kansas City you best think again. The Governor needs to focus on the citizens of our state. The guard needs called up to assist the police with those who believe running around the metro and acting like inner city hoods and gangsters have free housing and boarding for many years at a state institute for idiots.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, See how fast, how loud and how many stop signs and red lights a car can roll through without stopping.

Anonymous said...

Mr Mayor,

Is the city of Raytown going to take a proactive approach to beautify the city prior to the world cup being in the Kansas City metro?

I do recall as the football season kicked off you stated on Facebook, just like a keyboard warrior, that citizens should clean up the city. I find myself still in disbelief at those comments from a servant of the people. Before you find yourself beating your fist on the table top and yelling that we need to meet in your office as you did at least once in a public meeting this year. I agree we all could do better with our own properties. The reality as a former police officer you should know laws are passed because too many refuse to do the right thing in a civilized society. This is why the city has a set of laws known as ordinances to address property maintenance violations. This keeps up the city to a minimum standard and assist with health issues that could arise.

It is with those laws in mind that I along with a majority of citizens want to know why property codes enforcement is not proactive at least into early next year. Making Raytown look like a positive place to live in the metro. This might also change the reason several businesses who planned on opening a location in our city have quickly backed away.

Anonymous said...

I have seen cars roll slowly over speed humps and speed bumps. The point is they do not do it at 50 miles per hour on a residential street. Sounds like a solution to me. What do you think?

Anonymous said...

What is going on at the old Hidden Lakes retirement location? Why won't any of the Aldermen or City answer this question?

Anonymous said...

It's not that they don't "believe firing a gun in the air randomly is not going to result in the damage of property or potential loss of life." It's that they don't care. It's a loud way to let the rest of us know it. The parents should have taught them better, or is that the fault of our schools? I believe that many of the same people think I should pay for the streets to be maintained, but they shouldn't. Or that someone else should pick up the trash and junk furniture left on the curb. Absentee landlords don't care either, "Long as I have my rent money by next Friday." The city and citizens could and should make things more inconvenient for them. Maybe start with requiring valid license plates? That wouldn't work, right? Just like the speed bumps. Excuse me while I fondle my gavel.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the election reminder. I think it is good advice to be sure to vote yes. It is one way to keep Jackson County from over-charging us on tax property tax valuations in the future.