The Republican governor of Missouri could also be on the verge of issuing a rare pardon to a police officer who killed a Black man in 2019 ― and a county prosecutor is urging him to not do it.
Jean Peters Baker, the highest prosecutor in Jackson County, wrote a letter to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Tuesday asking him to not pardon former Kansas City police officer Eric DeValkenaere. The prosecutor’s workplace secured a second-degree involuntary manslaughter conviction towards DeValkenaere, and he was sentenced to 6 years in jail in March 2022. But his attorneys filed to attraction his sentencing inside days. DeValkenaere was allowed to stay on bond whereas he appealed his conviction. Lamb’s household filed a wrongful dying lawsuit two years later.
Kansas City neighborhood leaders urged Parson to not pardon DeValkenaere, who has not served any time in jail since he filed an attraction of his conviction. The Missouri Attorney General’s workplace is dealing with the appeals course of within the case.
Baker famous in her letter that if Parson chooses to pardon DeValkenaere, it’ll trigger additional division between the Kansas City police and residents within the metropolis.
“I am aware that you have been lobbied to pardon this officer, even before his trial. I imagine you might view a pardon as a way to support police. But I expect this extreme action for the only KCPD officer convicted of fatally shooting a Black man will ignite distrust, protests, and public safety concerns for citizens and for police,” Baker wrote to the governor.
In a press release, Parson responded, accusing the prosecutor of making an attempt to trigger division.
“It’s disappointing that the Jackson County Prosecutor would play political games when Governor Parson has a proven, bipartisan record of working to improve the criminal justice system as a whole. While the prosecutor tries to earn political points for her re-election bid, Governor Parson will continue working every day to support people across the state who are affected by crime,” Parson wrote.
Parson additional tried to tout different individuals he has pardoned, pointing to “20 commutations and 538 pardons he has granted out of the 3,700 requested applications,” he mentioned within the assertion.
“Every application goes through a thorough and thoughtful review before any decision is made. Eric DeValkenaere’s will be treated the exact same if he applies.”
On Dec. 3, 2019, Kansas City cops noticed Cameron Lamb, 26, chasing one other car. They didn’t have interaction him however did comply with him again to his home.
Two officers entered the property and not using a warrant, permission from the property proprietor or any possible trigger. One officer, Troy Schwalm, confronted Lamb. DeValkenaere got here from the opposite aspect of the house and knocked down a fence to get into the yard. He fired his gun at Lamb, fatally wounded him, and later mentioned he noticed Lamb elevate a gun and level it at Schwalm.
A choose dominated the officers adopted Lamb illegally. They had an obligation to fall again since Lamb didn’t current an apparent risk, and the 2 had been the aggressors in the course of the encounter. Schwalm was by no means charged however testified in the course of the trial.
Baker described the governor’s potential determination as a “political action over the legal process.” She inspired the governor to achieve out to Lamb’s household earlier than his workplace makes any authorized choices, which the Jackson County prosecutor famous his workplace had not performed but.
“I would urge you to immediately speak with the victim’s family. No one from your office or the Attorney General’s Office has spoken with these victims, and they deserve better,” Baker wrote. “Secondly, I urge you to speak with this community. Convene a public meeting in Kansas City regarding your proposed actions. Kansas Citians deserve to be heard.”
