Jackson County prosecutor launches site to collect protesters’ excessive force claims
Kansas City protesters who believe they were victims of excessive use of force by police can now report their concerns online to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
As part of a review of police misconduct, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker in a news release Thursday announced the launch of a website her office will use to collect evidence of possible excessive force.
Those who wish to submit proof, including videos, of excessive force, can do so anonymously through a form called “citizen complaints about police misconduct, excessive force” found on the prosecutor’s website.
“We have heard an outpouring of concern about police conduct related to the recent protests in Kansas City,” Baker said in a statement. “We needed to give citizens easy access to the system to report those concerns.”
Police can also submit evidence of protesters throwing objects such as bricks, rocks and bottles at officers to the prosecutor’s office, according to the release.
Earlier this week, Baker’s office announced her office is investigating the use of pepper spray on protesters.
Baker said Wednesday that her office is reviewing video of Kansas City police officers who pepper-sprayed two protesters, arresting one after he yelled at police.
Video of the incident, captured at a George Floyd protest at the Country Club Plaza, has been widely shared on social media.
Baker also on Thursday denounced the filling of municipal charges against nonviolent protesters.
In a statement, Baker made clear her office has not filed charges against protesters arrested during recent demonstrations on the Country Club Plaza for minor offenses, such as stepping off a street curb.
Those were filed by the city prosecutor’s office.
“I suggest making your voices heard about those arrests to city officials or the city prosecutor’s office,” Baker said.
Police arrested about 200 protesters over the past six days, according to daily totals released by police.
The Star’s Glenn Rice and Luke Nozicka contributed.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 12:09 PM.
