Local

Overland Park police officer resigns after being charged with battery against a child

Overland Park Officer Adam Vendetti, top right, was interviewed by investigators after former officer Clayton Jenison shot and killed John Albers on Jan. 20, 2018. Vendetti recently was charged with battery and resigned from the police department.
Overland Park Officer Adam Vendetti, top right, was interviewed by investigators after former officer Clayton Jenison shot and killed John Albers on Jan. 20, 2018. Vendetti recently was charged with battery and resigned from the police department. Overland Park Police Department

An Overland Park police officer resigned last week after being charged in Johnson County District Court with hurting a child.

Adam M. Vendetti, 48, was charged with battery, a misdemeanor.

According to the criminal complaint, Vendetti was charged July 31. The complaint lists two juveniles as witnesses as well as Children’s Mercy personnel and the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

Vendetti was an officer with the Overland Park Police Department from July 15, 2015, until he resigned on Aug. 12, city spokeswoman Meg Ralph said.

He pleaded not guilty the next day.

His attorney Joshua Brunkhorst said he and Vendetti had no comment on the criminal case or his employment.

In January 2018, Vendetti was on the scene of the fatal police shooting that took the life of John Albers. The 17-year-old was shot and killed by former officer Clayton Jenison, who resigned. Vendetti was interviewed by investigators about the incident. Footage from that interview was released in 2021.

This story was originally published August 23, 2024 at 12:30 PM.

Katie Moore
The Kansas City Star
Katie Moore was an enterprise and accountability reporter for The Star. She covered justice issues, including policing, prison conditions and the death penalty. She is a University of Kansas graduate and began her career as a reporter in 2015 in her hometown of Topeka, Kansas.
Sarah Ritter
The Kansas City Star
Sarah Ritter was a watchdog reporter for The Kansas City Star, covering K-12 schools and local government in the Johnson County, Kansas suburbs since 2019.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER