Partner Matthew Merryman was recently featured in The Kansas City Star as the author of a guest opinion examining how Kansas City’s homicide statistics are being publicly framed—and what those numbers mean for residents living with the daily reality of violent crime.
In the article, Merryman challenges the idea that a modest year-over-year decline in homicides should be characterized as meaningful progress. Drawing on his experience as a criminal defense attorney and longtime Kansas City resident, he argues that raw percentages can obscure the broader human impact of violence, particularly in neighborhoods that continue to bear the brunt of gun crime.
The opinion piece emphasizes the importance of honesty and accountability when discussing public safety data. While acknowledging the efforts of city leadership, law enforcement, and prosecutors, Merryman cautions against celebrating statistical improvements that do not reflect a tangible change in lived experience for many Kansas Citians.
Ultimately, the article calls for a more grounded conversation about violence—one that recognizes the limitations of numbers alone and underscores the shared responsibility of the entire community in addressing the root causes of crime.
You can read the full opinion piece, “Sorry, Mayor Lucas: A 5% drop in Kansas City homicides isn’t progress,” on The Kansas City Star website.