Meet The Star’s new law enforcement watchdog pursuing police accountability
Hey there, Ben Wheeler here.
I’m one of The Star’s newest hires, signing on as the Law Enforcement Watchdog reporter and brand new to the city, having moved here in early December. I’m coming to The Star after spending the last five years in Memphis, Tennessee, where I worked predominantly in the law enforcement accountability realm.
I covered everything from meetings and budget requests to the beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Memphis Police Department officers and the subsequent Justice Department investigation.
One series of stories that I wrote was about an assistant Memphis police chief who voted in another state while being paid with public tax dollars, which required a combination of public records requests for time cards, analyzing voting records from different states and countless hours spent making calls. Those stories ultimately led to the assistant chief leaving the department.
That’s the type of work I plan to bring to readers in Kansas City, looking beyond flashing lights to focus on the people involved, examining how actions or inactions shaped outcomes and explaining complex legal processes along the way.
Kansas City has entered a pivotal year in 2026. It is one marked by major decisions on law enforcement, including a police budget request topping $400 million, proposed cost-saving measures, an expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence and preparations to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Decisions made this year, whether about police staffing, oversight, spending and policy, will likely shape how policing looks in Kansas City for years to come, long after the World Cup crowds have left town.
Just since I arrived, there have been plenty of headlines about Police Department lawsuits, ICE looking to open a detention facility in the area and criminal charges being declined against a Kansas City police officer who shot two people in 2023.
Kansas City is full of these stories and presents significant challenges in trying to tell them. Missouri’s records laws are restrictive and limit access to potentially important information. That’s part of what drew me to this position.
I spent countless hours in Memphis talking with families who were trying to understand what happened during encounters with police, often long after the headlines faded. I also talked with police officers who wondered why the department was moving in the direction it was. Those conversations stuck with me, and they continue to guide how I approach this work.
Together, we can tell stories that hold those in power accountable and serve readers across the metro.
I’ve already started knocking on doors around the metro and have tried to meet with whoever is willing to share a cup of coffee.
Whether you’ve had an experience with law enforcement, noticed patterns in your neighborhood, or simply have questions about how the system works, I want to hear from you.
If you have a tip or a story you want to share, feel free to reach out to me at benjamin.wheeler@kcstar.com and we can set up a time to talk.
I’m excited to be here and get to work.
