Why we must ask about KC police captain, security work and pop star Taylor Swift | Opinion

Kansas City Police Capt. Daniel Graves is the husband of Police Chief Stacey Graves. As such, most of us could agree Daniel Graves, a decorated cop himself, is a public figure, especially because his wife is the first female chief in Kansas City. If Daniel Graves worked off-duty to provide security for pop star Taylor Swift and everything is above board, why won’t department officials just say so?

On Wednesday, we asked officials – yes or no? – but got the same response Star reporters received earlier this week to go ask Taylor Swift herself. That’s not the transparency we would like to see in the Kansas City Police Department.

In itself, Daniel Graves working a second job for a security company isn’t that big of a deal. Off-duty work is the norm in law enforcement circles. The Kansas City Police Department personnel policy and the Missouri state policy state when and where police can perform this secondary security work. However, the KC policy talks about only working within the city limits, and, in addition, states members are forbidden “to act as private security personnel.”

We wonder if it’s the “where” that is at issue. Lots of questions, but no clear answers from officials. If there is a loophole or reason why there is no violation, we ask the KCPD to be upfront about it. Why is that important? To continue building trust between police and the community by being open and transparent.

Right to know

Based on the video footage we watched, it was fair to question whether Daniel Graves violated Kansas City Police Department policy. Police officials have said he didn’t. However, we also must wonder if police officials were as clear as they should have been in this situation.

Sadly, Chief Stacey Graves was unable to comment due to an unexpected death in her family, we were told Wednesday.

But Kansas Citians have the right to know about a high-ranking police official’s very public work activities. And this is no condemnation of Daniel Graves. He very well could have been at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as a chaperon, fan, or one of Swift’s guests.

Graves wasn’t in uniform or acting as a Kansas City Police officer while there, according to department officials.

“As it pertains to the real situation of Captain Graves appearing in the video on Sunday, there is not a violation of policy,” Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the department, wrote in an email.

Did he work for Swift?

This week, the Star reported that Daniel Graves appeared to work off-duty security detail for Swift when the Kansas City Chiefs visited Green Bay this past Sunday. Swift was in attendance to root on the Chiefs and boyfriend Travis Kelce.

When we specifically asked the police department’s media unit if it could confirm whether Daniel Graves works security detail for Swift — they wouldn’t. And therein lies the issue. Why won’t KCPD officials just tell us why he was there?

“I’d refer you to Taylor Swift or her representatives for any details of any work arrangements she may have,” Becchina wrote.

We also wanted to know how the department determined Graves did not violate policy.

“It was determined by looking at the policy and seeing that the situation did not constitute a violation of that policy,” Becchina wrote. That’s clear as mud.

Earlier this week, in a statement to The Star, police officials told reporters Glenn Rice and Lisa Gutierrez that Daniel Graves was not on duty or working in a law enforcement capacity when he was seen on video walking into Lambeau Field with Swift and other security personnel. They were joined by other players’ wives including Brittany Mahomes, wife of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

In her first year as police chief, Stacey Graves touted building better community relations as one of her goals. To her credit, Chief Graves has followed through with a series of community engagement-style events throughout the city and other initiatives. She works hand-in-hand with community stakeholders and local prosecutors to address violent crime.

But the public has a right to question if any of the officers under her watch, including her husband’s apparent and very public off-duty activities, violates the rules.

This story was originally published December 7, 2023 at 11:59 AM.