Office Of Community Complaints | Preserving Civil War Flags

By Steve Kraske,

Danie Alexander, Mackenzie Martin, Luke X. Martin

Published June 30, 2020 at 12:15 PM CDT

Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith in uniform is seated at a table leaning in to listen to the protester in white T-shirt, ball cap and a black ski mask seated across from him. — In the wake of George Floyd protests on the Plaza, citizen oversight of the Kansas City Police Department has come into question. Police Chief Rick Smith is shown here during conversations with protesters on June 3.

The independent oversight agency that handles grievances against the Kansas City Police Department is often criticized, and why the Kansas Historical Society is restoring Civil War battle flags from Northern and Southern states.

Segment 1, beginning at 4:50: How Kansas City's civilian staffed oversight agency works.

A long-standing controversy involving the Kansas City Police Department has to do with its oversight from the Office of Community Complaints. The office is responsible for following up on complaints against law enforcement officers, but critics say they too rarely render judgments against the actions of officers and are raising questions about how effective and fair it is.

Merrell Bennekin, executive director of the Office of Community Complaints

Segment 2, beginning at 36:10: Is there a right way to preserve and display Confederate flags?

The Fourth of July is coming up, a day full of flag pride. There’s always one flag that causes controversy though — the Confederate battle flag. A curator explained why one such flag is included in the Kansas Historical Society's Save the Flags project that is restoring and preserving Civil War flags captured by Kansas troops

Blair Tarr, museum curator for the Kansas Historical Society

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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Mackenzie Martin

Whether it’s something happening right now or something that happened 100 years ago, some stories don’t fit in the short few minutes of a newscast. As a podcast producer and reporter at KCUR Studios, I help investigate questions and local curiosities in a way that brings listeners along for adventures with plot twists and thought-provoking ideas. Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer in the end – but my hope is that we all leave with a greater understanding of the city we live in. Reach me at mackenzie@kcur.org.

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Luke X. Martin

As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.

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