I'd love to wine and dine at the Capital Grille on the Plaza and have someone else pick up the tab -- like, say, all of you. Unfortunately for me, I can't do that. But three Kansas City police commanders and a lobbyist can and did, ringing up pricey meals on taxpayers' dimes.
According to The Kansas City Star, the commanders and a lobbyist ran up three tabs of more than $500 each at the swanky restaurant (a November tab of $540, a December tab of $570 and a December 2009 meal for $564.48), all billed to the Kansas City Police Department as "legislative expenses," which actually means that we're all picking up the tab. And, at all three meals, they were reportedly boozing, which violates department policy.
Worse yet, the December 2009 meal was attended by three commanders, the lobbyist and Police Chief Jim Corwin. Shouldn't the chief know better? Yes, yes he should.
Corwin told the Star that there was "no excuse" for the Capital Grille charges, calling it "a poor choice of
restaurants."
"I have been present when alcohol was purchased and I did not takeThe Star's review of 2009 and 2010 receipts turned in by Majors Roger Lewis and Wayne Stewart, who lobby for the KCPD, "revealed a pattern of expensive charges at steakhouses and taverns, some as high as $298, mostly in Jefferson City." Other names, like the KCPD's paid lobbyist, Andy Arnold, and state lawmakers sometimes showed up on the receipts.action as I should have," he said. "I should have approached the board
to make a policy change. That's where I misstepped."
Corwin took full responsibility for the expenses and policy violations.
"This is on me," he said. "We sent them to Jeff City to make
relationships.... They went there to do business for the police
department and the expenses they have can be explained."
In all, Lewis and Stewart charged about $7,000 last year in meals, gas and other expenses for about 80 days' worth of work between them. They also charged about $5,000 for lodging. In 2009, they charged about $7,600 in meals and expenses and about $6,000 in lodging.All of this isn't sitting well with Police Board President Pat McInerney, who sent Corwin an e-mail Monday demanding that the commanders repay the money they spent on the pricey meals as well as for any alcohol charged, which came to $3,201.76.
Lewis is the department member who charged all three Capital Grille meals to his department card, the records showed. Stewart attended two of those dinners.
all three Capital Grille meals as well as several Jefferson City
outings. Ritter and Corwin apparently plan to split the cost with Lewis
and Stewart, knocking down the reimbursement to $800.44 each. How nice of
them.
The lobbyists can also expect to have an independent auditor look at their expenses, and if policy violations are discovered, McInerney promised the Star that "there will be consequences."
Sounds like nothing but Applebee's from here on out.
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That is a crock - The board is stupid and oblivious. There were no unethical charges except those placed against the officers. Most of it was the work of a back stabber who wanted political gain - it worked - he is the current chief even though he is definitely not qualified, but it pays to buddy up to the mayor and the head of the police board. Seems there may have been a lawyer involved who not only benefited financially but politically. I believe his slanted findings cost the good citizens of Kansas City probably four or times the cost of the allegation. Hmm? Does it pay to be a champion of the people and do your job according to protocal or be a back stabbing, money grubbin charleton - you be the judge.
KCPD and Poor Performance.
Kansas City police commanders, lobbyist charge taxpayers for pricey meal and booze at Capital
Grill. In all, Lewis and Stewart charged about $7,000 last year in meals, gas and other
expenses for about 80 days' worth of work between them. They also charged about $5,000 for
lodging. In 2009, they charged about $7,600 in meals and expenses and about $6,000 in lodging.
100 New Kansas City police cars sit idle in storage.
The Kansas City Police Department spent at least $2.1 million in the last 13 months to buy
more than 100 vehicles that will take months — perhaps years — to fully deploy.
And some Kansas City Council members, still in the midst of their own budget crisis, are
angry. Part of that money, they contend, might have helped keep officers on the streets
instead of keeping idle cars in a garage for the future.
“We know they need cars,” said Councilwoman Deb Hermann. “But we need things at the city,
too.”
Police Board Criticizes KCPD Clearance Rate
2010 KCPD HOMICIDE CLEARANCE RATE PLUMMETS TO 41 percent. Kansas City Police Board members
said they were disappointed with the low number of cases solved so far this year. — 40 out of
95 homicides. Kansas city is known as the ‘Kansas City Murder Factory’and a Documentary
challenges community members
Kansas City Police Officer Accused of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol While On Duty.
Officer Josette Young, a Kansas City Missouri Internal Affairs officer, which occurred with
the disturbing note to this accident is that Officer Young was on duty at the time.
A detention officer for the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department has been charged with
promoting prostitution.The Jackson County prosecutor charged Jacques A. Baker, 23, with
promoting prostitution.
A veteran Kansas City police officer has been suspended without pay after he was charged with
getting a teen drunk and sodomizing him.James R. Silke, 52, was charged Friday in Clay County
Circuit Court with sexual assault.
A former Kansas City Police Department officer was awarded a judgment of $6.5 million
Wednesday in his lawsuit against Kansas City and the Police Department.
Justice Dept. To Probe KCPD Hiring Practices
Having solved all of KC's problems, KCPD Detectives enforces jaywalking ..... I guess two
people dying per week is ok, So we'll use detectives to catch jaywalking, and this happened to
coincide with the NAACP's national conference in Kansas city.
The E-Tax is Dead folks.
i think that even $45 a day per diem is a bit lavish. They should have this reduced as a consequence.
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