TKC MUST READ!!! KANSAS CITY POLICE CHIEF CLAIMS 'SILENT MAJORITY' SUPPORT POLICE OVER ELECTED LEADERS!!!

Today the top cop in Kansas City uses opinion polling numbers to tout more impressive signs of community support like surging recruitment efforts and increased participation in youth mentoring programs.

Moreover . . .

The KCPD Chief touting trust in police over politicos, journalists and clerics in this era of social media trolling and scandal is setting the bar far too low for Kansas City's finest.

Still we understand his point even if his post reveals just a bit too much pride and uses old school, loaded Nixon-era language like the "silent majority." In fact, support for police is loud and proud online with Blue Lives Matter counter-movements shutting down critics of police and answering social media antipathy toward law enforcement.

Now, Check Chief Smith's argument . . .

KCPD Chief's Blog: Study finds police are one of the most trusted groups in America

Check the premise . . .

A recent study from Pew Research Center indicates that police officers are one of the most trusted authorities in America, ranking just below public school principals and ahead of the six other groups discussed in the survey, including religious leaders and journalists. Members of Congress ranked at the bottom of the list.

I think this study contradicts the national narrative that mistrust of the police is raging nationwide. The silent majority of Americans support law enforcement. According to the study, “Police officers also are viewed in a positive light by the U.S. public. More than eight-in-ten (84%) U.S. adults say police officers protect people from crime ‘all or most’ or ‘some of the time.’ Three-quarters or more also say that police officers care about people (79%), responsibly handle the resources available to them (79%) and provide fair and accurate information to the public (74%) at least some of the time.

For several years now, we have seen story after story about how confidence in law enforcement has fallen off or that trust is at an all-time low. According to the Pew study, that is not the case. The stories also say no one would want to be a police officer in times of such mistrust. That hasn’t been our experience, either. We have had a wonderful response to our recruitment efforts and get about a thousand applications for the position of police officer each year. This is a noble profession, and I am grateful that so many people want to pursue it with our agency . . .

Read the Chief's post in its entirety . . .

The Chief offers some qualifiers and room for improvement but we put the question to our blog community . . .

IS KCPD THE MOST TRUSTWORTHY AUTHORITY IN KANSAS CITY?!?!

You decide . . .