Residents tell Raytown board police left an injured man on a porch; aldermen urge follow-up

Residents used the Board of Aldermen’s public-comment period on Sept. 2 to raise concerns about police response and safety at Coleman Park.

Jim DeLong, who identified himself as living at 5900 Lowell Avenue, said he and his wife found “a battered old man” on their porch after an assault at Coleman Park and that officers “left him in that condition on my porch.” DeLong said the man initially refused EMS but later allowed treatment; DeLong told the board he was surprised officers would not return the man to the park to identify the assailant and characterized the police actions as “washing your hands of it.”

Morris Malloy, a neighbor of the park, told the board crimes “spill over from the park to the neighbors” and said residents are deterred from attending meetings because of how encounters with staff and officials have occurred. Both speakers urged follow-up from police. Mayor McDonough told the speakers these concerns should be brought to the police department and said the chief should handle investigations and complaints.

Aldermen discussed related safety topics later in the meeting during the strategic planning conversation, including traffic calming and park-enforcement measures; Alderman Walters indicated he would speak with the police chief about follow-up. The public comment period closed without a formal board action on these specific allegations; the mayor and aldermen recorded on the record that the police department is the appropriate body to receive and investigate complaints.

The board did not vote on any police-related motions at the meeting. Residents were advised to file complaints with the police department and to coordinate with their alderman if they seek board assistance.