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Irregular News for 11.14.05
Johnson Co, KS -- A group of Johnson County employees was suspended for betting on homicide statistics, KMBC's Chris Nagus reported Thursday.
According to the Leawood city administrator, between eight and 10 city employees are facing disciplinary action after taking part in an office betting pool based on the number of homicides in Kansas City this year. The city administrator said the winning pot was less than $50.
Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem Al Brooks is outraged over the betting pool.
"How insensitive and inhumane can someone be? This is crazy," Brooks said. "Would you be taking a bet on how many soldiers are going to die in Iraq or how many Iraqis are going to die in blasts?"
Brooks said the homicides aren't just numbers -- they represent human life.
"I'm thinking about these grieving families; someone is taking a chance on them," Brooks said.
He said the crudeness of such a betting pool is that someone could be rooting for more violence.
"If you're at 109 or 110, you say, 'Don't have anymore homicides,' but if you are at 125, then you are, like, 'Root for the team so you can win the pot,'" Brooks said.
Other residents were also upset about the office pool
"It's just in bad taste; not a lot of class," Tony Schroeder said. "It's just appalling. I can't imagine somebody would do that in a city office," Carolyn Thiessen said.
The Leawood city administrator would not comment on how long the employees would be suspended.
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Johnson Co, KS -- A group of Johnson County employees was suspended for betting on homicide statistics, KMBC's Chris Nagus reported Thursday.
According to the Leawood city administrator, between eight and 10 city employees are facing disciplinary action after taking part in an office betting pool based on the number of homicides in Kansas City this year. The city administrator said the winning pot was less than $50.
Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem Al Brooks is outraged over the betting pool.
"How insensitive and inhumane can someone be? This is crazy," Brooks said. "Would you be taking a bet on how many soldiers are going to die in Iraq or how many Iraqis are going to die in blasts?"
Brooks said the homicides aren't just numbers -- they represent human life.
"I'm thinking about these grieving families; someone is taking a chance on them," Brooks said.
He said the crudeness of such a betting pool is that someone could be rooting for more violence.
"If you're at 109 or 110, you say, 'Don't have anymore homicides,' but if you are at 125, then you are, like, 'Root for the team so you can win the pot,'" Brooks said.
Other residents were also upset about the office pool
"It's just in bad taste; not a lot of class," Tony Schroeder said. "It's just appalling. I can't imagine somebody would do that in a city office," Carolyn Thiessen said.
The Leawood city administrator would not comment on how long the employees would be suspended.
Full Story