In the wake of several recent bar-related shootings, it’s good to hear that the Wichita Police Department is getting tough on problem bars.
The Eagle editorial board and neighborhood groups called for a crackdown in the wake of a July 27 shooting death at Big Chub’s at 31st Street South and Seneca, the scene of numerous late-night problems such as parking lot brawls and shootings.
Over the weekend, police shot and seriously wounded a man in the parking lot of Max’s Club on South Rock Road. Wichita Deputy Police Chief Tom Stolz told The Eagle that both Chub’s and Max’s are among half a dozen clubs that are “on our radar” because of frequent violence and problems at closing time.
Stolz said the police would look at an ordinance change to tighten licensing requirements and provide an “accountability mechanism” for bars.
About time. Residents shouldn’t have to put up with these bad neighbors. And as Stolz pointed out, “to send, consistently, 10 and 15 officers to shut down a nightclub is not a wise use of resources and not a good way to spend tax dollars.”
15 Comments
I have no use for bars. I don’t mind social pubs or places that serve liquors, but facilities that stay open until the wee hours of the morning, what exactly does one expect to happen?
I feel sorry for the cops having to deal with these drunks and dope heads. If it were me, I’d close down all late night bars and have the city council push an ordinance that requires extraordinary licensing, security requirements and restrictions before one is allowed to open.
Regular
Posted August 7, 2008 at 6:18 am | Permalink
I have no use for bars.
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I guess it’s better to hang out in your sister’s basement and spend your life posting slanderous comments and lies on the WEBlog.
………such is the life of James McCluer!
Morning Apophis!
How’s the life of a bitter Middle School Science Teacher?
Shooting became a murder at El Patron. Murder at Chubb’s. Shooting at Max’s. All 3 are heavily patronized by ‘minorities’. I suppose it is ‘racist’ to even notice that?
When are you people gonna realize that the problem doesn’t lie within the club ordinances. Whether you close all these problematic clubs down, the problem will persist and they’ll just take it to the streets like they do anyway. These young people are enticed by the violence and accept it. Or else why would one go to a club, bar that facilitates the mentality. Keep something open for them next to the strip clubs so that they may kill up each other out there and not on our local streets where our children play. And they can continue to kill up each other or they’ll grow tired of it, whichever comes first.
Well Mr B, I hope there are no children out playing in the wee hours of the morning. :)
Providing a place to get liquored up to violent factions is well, stupid.
Perhaps Wyatt Earp needs to come to Wichita and start pistol whipping people if they don’t give up their guns when they frequent bars. :D
The “Cherry Creek” neighborhood, on South Rock Road, really is a nice area.
Technically, that area begins South of Harry, but we are close to the problem.
This particular bar has gone through several name changes, it was “The Grove” for awhile.
It now seems to attract a “gang banger” bunch.
I appreciate the traffic stops and DUI checks on South Rock, I think that has helped in the area, but I do have an idea:
Why not require every Club that has reached a certain “threshold” where crime or violence is concerned, to instal a video camera to take pictures of everyone at the door?
Then, require that bar or club to CARD everyone, and to waive that card in front of the video camera, as they let people in the door?
The “don’t snitch” mentality kind of goes down the drain, when you force people to “snitch” on themselves, doesn’t it?
Beyond that, there are almost certainly some probation violations going on at nearly every bar.
Once you force people to show ID, and let them know that there is a video camera, some of the trouble makers will just stay away!
excuse me, it was “Club Groove” for awhile.
I feel sorry having to deal with drunks bringing their ar 15’s to the club with them from their homes.
ommitted sorry: for cops,
Mark this day on the calandar because I fully agree with Regular. Bars that stay open half the night are magnets for trouble. Mix booze with young people late at night and you have a recipe for disaster. At a certian level of violence, the clubs involved should have to have police on site and the clubs should foot the bill. A few dozen cops out in the parking lot at closing time might incourage some civilized behaviour.
IMO, when the thug showed an AR-15, he asked to be gunned down.
At noon, according to the news, there are protestors outside city hall, protesting ‘police brutality’.
So, now it is brutality when a possible shooter, pointing a loaded semi-automatic weapon is shot by police? This coming about a month after another officer was shot? Brutality? Of course, his MOM said there wasn’t any gun–minor detail, she wasn’t there….
Most Black men who die of gunshot wounds were shot — By another Black man.
Fear of “police brutality” and fear of “racial profiling” lawsuits are responsible for more deaths than the police have ever caused.
The state legislators should wise up and turn complete bar jurisdiction over to local communities. Local government can approve an alcohol license but cannot take it away hmmmmmm.
Your local government cannot legally shut down a bar. The bar must be found guilty of serving minors or selling drugs by Topeka agents before there is any hope.
Isn’t it odd that after shootings,brawls,rapes and continued serving to intoxicated customers Wichita,Kansas cannot put a nusiance out of business? Too much control of local bars is
managed in Topeka,Kansas. That stinks. Topeka,Kansas is part of the problem. Some bar owners are another part of the problem.Some bar property owners are a part of the problem.
Your police chief is correct about wasted resources. If cities would get tough and bust intoxicated drivers leaving problem bars, impound their vehicles, pulling their drivers license and insurance 30 days sooner or later matters will begin to improve. Getting to work on a bus or bicycle will give these individuals plenty of time to think.
Local authority to shut down bars and terminate a license would get bar owners attention quickly. Wichita is not the only city with a Topeka,Kansas problem. I just read, after 3 years a violent problem bar in Lawrence had the final nail placed in that coffin. BUT it required the property owner getting involved and forcing the bar tenant out. Last Call is no more and local citizens throughout
Lawrence are not unhappy. Most say it took way to long.Citizens put a lot of pressure on at the state level as well.
It makes me think of the famous quote – “We are almost always guilty of the hate we encounter.” (Luc De Vauvenargues)…