I am so saddened by the loss of so many lives tonite in Kirkwood . I pray that the leaders of this community can unite in prayer and may the innocent have not died in vain. I stood beside Connie Carr and the Mayor in 2006 at Meramac College on election day and so loved the campus my son goes there. Connie was a dear friend and the shock is just setting in. My heart goes to the fallen police officers who all across America put their lives on the line for Democracy. Please join us in prayer for the friends and families who have suffered a great loss
and for the shooters family who I feel couldn’t stop their lost soul family member. This is not the Kirkwood I know and may healing begin for us all. God’s Peace to all only he is the great healer of mankind.

There are so many emotions to this horrible and tragic crime. First and foremost, I extend my deepest sympathy to the families, friends, co-workers and community of Kirkwood. As an elected official in another community I come in contact with those who are upset about various issues that they feel are unfair to them. But we live in a community, governed by the community with rules that have to be enforced fairly and equally. If you have one individual who wants to disobey those laws and feel that they should be treated special, how can you justify that to the others in the same community who obey those laws? This wasn’t “war”, it was murder. A suspect went up against unarmed civilians and Police Officers who didn’t have a chance. And for what? Code violations that he didn’t want to obey? Violations that everyone else has to obey for the good of the whole community. There are ALWAYS options, but those options never, ever include murder! How much did the suspect spend on lawsuits, gas, time, effort, etc. to fight what was upheld by a federal court? How much would it have cost him to move the vehicles that were a large part of the problem? How much to take whatever classes were necessary to come into compliance? At the very least he could have saved his family from going through this time as well. I know he could have saved those he killed by just using some common sense. But he chose to murder and all the talk in the world won’t bring those devoted, public servants back, or their loved ones to their families. We have got to teach people that there is a better way than violence.

I would like to give my deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and wounded. Mike Swoboda is my neighbor, as well as was a volunteer at Robinson Elementary in the early ’90s when I was a student there. My father is a retired police officer, and knew both of the officers killed on Thursday. What happened Thursday was horrible. I was shocked to receive a phone call at school from my mother saying that such a tragedy had occurred. Honestly, I first asked her if she was joking, and was horrified when I discovered she was not.

My main concern with the ordeal is the fact that someone, no matter how distraught the individual may be, felt the need to resort to violence in the name of combating racism and inequality. The approach nauseates and disturbs me. Of course I understand that African Americans, as well as any minority, have been suppressed in some way by the city of St. Louis, and so forth in other areas. Kirkwood is known for its small-town mentality, where one thing becomes everyone’s problem, and if an attack is made on the city, we fight for our city. Arguably it could be said that no one fought in favor of Thornton. Well, I’m not a “jackass” or have a “plantation-mentality,” and in all honesty, I will not support someone who accuses me of such characteristics. Accordingly I find it kind of ironic that when Thornton became dissatisfied with the way he was treated, he chose to resort to violence and murder. Now what message and image does that send to members of my community, his community, as well as to the rest of the nation? Not a positive, culturally accepted one. Stereotyping and racism thus continues on when matters are handled in such violent ways. I’m sorry, but I went to high school with Kevin Johnson, and the reactions and feelings towards his murderous act haven’t changed, and I don’t think the reactions and feelings will change in the aftermath of this tragedy. It’s too close to home in such short time. And people will heal differently.

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who had family or friends killed or injuried in Thursday shootings. I especially am thinking of the entire Biggs family. I grew with Officer Bill Biggs sons and spent many summer nights over at his home growing up. Officer Biggs was amazing man and a father figure in my life. I was heart struck when I read that he was one of the officers killed in the line of duty.

P.S. There is no justifcation for this senseless violence. These actions are born out of pure evil, not “mis-understanding”

Words cannot easily describe an event as horrific as this… I’m speechless for how to respond.

My unyielding support goes out to the families of the victims, the Kirkwood Police Department, and the city itself as I was raised my whole life in Kirkwood and personally knew a number of the victims of this senseless shooting. Kirkwood, as a small town, has sheltered me and was an amazing place to grow up. The Kirkwood Police welcomed me into their organization as a Police Explorer which helped to make me the man I am today. In a way Tom Ballman himself helped raise me… Mike Swoboda would always welcome you with a smile… and Bill Biggs was a good man who always had your back. We’ll never have these great people that we lost today, they can not be replaced, but its a challange we can overcome.

I only hope that our response is not out of vengeance, nor out of hate for that will surely destroy what Kirkwood has always been beautiful for. It is no doubt will we have the difficult challange of recovery ahead of it but we cannot make the problem worse. I only ask that our response examines the cause of these senseless acts of violence and addresses them, for let us remember that this isn’t the first time an incident like this has happened, I only hope we can prevent the next one.

Godspeed…

As one who grew up in Webster Groves and remembers many dear friends and times in Kirkwood I am hurt by the hurt caused to those shot, their families, friends and neighbors. I guess I think, “If this can happen in Kirkwood, wherecan’t it happen?” May God grant His grace in the peace that passeth all understaning in this time to all of you.

As a Kirkwood resident and KHS grad it makes me so sad to see such a horrible tragedy in my hometown. My deepest condolences and best wishes to those affected by this tragic event. The unfortunate news that has been coming from our small community over the last few years has been heartbreaking. Since when did being a Kirkwood police officer become such a dangerous job??? Gun control anyone???

My deepest sympathies are extended to the families who lost loved ones tonight… both the victims and the shooter. I am praying for each and every one of you. While my mind focused on the victims and their families, God really made me take a look at the surviving friends and family of the shooter. Not only will they be grieving the loss of a loved one, but also will be dealing with the shock that their loved one could perform such an act. I hope that residents will realize that they are victims in this as well… and work to heal as a community.

As for the safety at future meetings…
After “9/11″, safety and security is a much stronger focus than it had been in the past. We realize that some “freedoms” may be limited/modified to ensure the safety of the community. Many schools, courtrooms, public buildings have added metal detectors to ensure no guns, knives, or other weapons can be taken into those public areas. While this causes additional work, time, and money, I’m sure we can all agree that the safety of the community is of much more value.

Again, my prayers to ALL of the victims and their families.

My heart is broken. During my tenure as City Clerk for the neighboring City of Oakland, I became friends with Sgt. Bill Biggs. (Oakland contracts with Kirkwood for its fire and police protection.) Sgt. Biggs attended Oakland’s board of aldermen meetings in the capacity of Sgt. at Arms, and was our direct contact with the Kirkwood PD. He was a shining example of a great cop, and was a true prince with a heart of gold. He, along with the others lost in this horrible nightmare, will be sorely missed.