Category: Opinions

Opinion: Have police chases ended in KCK?

Window on the West column

by Mary Rupert

Some short items while I contemplate the nearly fall weather.

Law enforcement chases

Law enforcement chases came to an end in 2014 in Kansas City, Kan., after an innocent bystander, Graciela Olivas, lost her life. There was a new policy at that time not to pursue these chases, for the protection of innocent residents who could be caught in the middle of them.

But there have been chases recently in Kansas City, Kan., on July 21, Aug. 17, Sept. 1 and Sept. 3. In the last chase, a suspect drove the wrong way on a busy interstate highway. Some of the chases were high speed. They all involved chases that started in Missouri and were continued across the state line into Kansas.

I understand that there are good reasons for chasing suspects, but I think the safety of bystanders and other drivers on the roads should be given a higher priority.

If the chases continue, maybe there should be a gate built across the interstate highways about a tenth of a mile before you reach Kansas, so that it can be closed on fleeing suspects. Then the Kansas side wouldn’t have to be involved in law enforcement responding to these chases, medical emergency personnel wouldn’t have to respond, mostly Missouri bystanders would be involved, and the Missouri taxpayers could pay for the whole thing.

In the eye of the beholder?

Seems to me (a graduate of both K-State and KU) that a big controversy at the K-State halftime show last weekend was much exaggerated.

When a marching band performance was presented and announced as Jayhawk vs. the starship Enterprise, then that’s what it was. Anything else is in the eye of the beholder.

The pictures served as a Rorschach test of sorts, telling us what was on the minds of those who interpreted it as something that was obscene or NSFW (not suitable for work) viewing. Apparently there were a lot of people whose minds were on sex during an evening football game.

K-State has announced internal sanctions, including a fine, for the incident. Some observers speculated that the K-State band was responding to off-color chants heard previously at the games. Both schools could probably do with a little less rivalry, but what else do the students have to do, except study?

To reach Mary Rupert, editor, email [email protected].

Renaissance Festival kicks off its season on Saturday

The Renaissance Festival opens Saturday, Sept. 5, at 126th and State in Bonner Springs. (Photo by R'nee O'Bannon)
The Renaissance Festival opens Saturday, Sept. 5, at 126th and State in Bonner Springs. (Photo by R’nee O’Bannon)

by William Crum

On Sept. 5, the Renaissance Festival opens in Bonner Springs. This year is even bigger and better than years in the past.

The Renaissance Festival has a lot more to offer, for example, they have added a lot of new items to the food menu such as fine green tomatoes, a crab cake sandwich and some of the best desserts ever and as always they have the traditional items such as the turkey legs. Last year they sold an estimated 5,000 turkey legs.

They even have their own brand of coffee, which was developed by Roasters Coffee in Kansas City and the blend of coffee is some of the best I’ve tasted for a long time. They even have a zip line that you can try at a nominal fee.

Then there are special events like the Queen’s Tea. This event features stories and songs with the Queen, Cinderella’s fairy godmother and her prince. The event ends with a sweet treat. It’s at 2 p.m. daily and costs $9.95 a person.

Another royal event is beer and bacon tasting. Participants can drink craft beers while tasting specialty bacon and being entertained by bawdy humor and music. Participants need to be at least 21 years old. This happens at 3:30 p.m. daily on the tea deck and costs $14.95 per person.

And this year they have a lot of new crafts and vendors, making this an event that the whole family can enjoy, truly a remarkable experience. This year, they celebrate their 39th year.

Starting Sept. 5 to Oct. 18, it is open on weekends plus Labor Day and Columbus Day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. rain or shine. The Columbus Day, Oct. 12, hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information go the website www.kcrenfest.com or call 913-721-2110.

Guest column: Give police officers credit when they meet high standards

by U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom

A policeman’s life was never easy – and it’s harder now.

Time magazine described it well recently in an article called “What It’s Like Being a Cop Now.” The article said: “There are some 680,000 sworn police officers in the U.S. And in the past 12 months every one of them has had to answer in one way or another for the actions of colleagues they will never meet except on the screens running the latest viral incident.”

Law enforcement officers don’t have the luxury of being like everybody else.

Nobody pulls out a cell phone and posts a video on the Internet of you and me turning in anything less than perfect performance at our jobs. We aren’t responsible for life and death decisions. We don’t have to respond to every call for help, and nobody holds a news conference to demand we explain why we used the stun gun, the hand cuffs or the service revolver we carry on our belts.

Most of us would quit a job that routinely required us to chase a burglar down a dark alley, stop an angry husband from beating his wife or put up with a stranger’s drunken tirade.

In recent months, we’ve seen a series of tragedies in cities across the country that has turned our attention to the devastating consequences when police are not trusted and respected in the communities they serve. Those of us in law enforcement have a lot of work to do to restore that trust. I hope that is clear to every one of us, from the rookies on the streets to the chiefs behind their desks.

At the same time, I want everyone to remember that there is no question we need the police in our communities. They ensure our safety by patrolling our neighborhoods, defending the rights of victims and deterring crimes. They are our first responders in many emergency situations. They are role models for our young people. The overwhelming majority of women and men who police our streets do their jobs with honor, pride and distinction.

We have every right to hold our law enforcement officers to the highest standards of conduct, of course. At the same time, I hope we remember to give them credit when they are brave, honest and patient while performing a difficult job in even more difficult circumstances.

Barry Grissom is the U.S. attorney for the District of Kansas.