Letters: Justice for Overland Park’s Albers family, meatpacking safety, Alzheimer’s

Simply justice

There seem to be a lot of questions as to why the FBI opened a civil rights investigation into the death of my white son, John Albers, in Overland Park. (Sept. 26, 1A, “Mother of Kansas teen shot by police welcomes FBI investigation”)

Any representative of a governmental entity who deprives a victim of his or her civil rights is violating Section 1983 of U.S. Code. Police officers who use excessive force meet this definition. Civil rights apply to everyone — Black, brown, white, Republican or Democrat.

We need an open, honest and transparent accounting of what happened when a police officer fired his weapon 13 times at my unarmed 17-year-old son. Almost three years and a civil lawsuit later, we still don’t have answers.

We do know the officer received a $70,000 severance payment, even though Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez claimed the officer resigned for “personal reasons” before the department could take disciplinary action.

Because of the failure of Overland Park City Manager Bill Ebel and Donchez, Clayton Jenison still holds his Kansas peace officer’s license. It’s possible Jenison could show up at your front door to help your family member in crisis.

- Steve Albers, Overland Park

Protect workers

Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley and Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, Sam Graves and Vicky Hartzler: As a Missouri resident and concerned citizen, I urge you to pass the Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act, currently in the Senate and House, as part of a coronavirus relief package.

This act aims to protect slaughterhouse workers, animals and consumers from the dangers posed by higher-speed, privatized slaughter systems. Slaughterhouses have been hot spots for the spread of COVID-19. As of September, more than 42,000 slaughterhouse and meatpacking workers had tested positive for the virus and at least 200 workers and four inspectors had died from COVID-19.

Passing this bill would prohibit these dangerous systems from operating during the pandemic, when workers are even more vulnerable to the hazards of increased line speeds. Missouri residents, please call your federal legislators and ask them to pass the Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act immediately.

- Robert White, Lone Jack, Missouri

Walk for good

Although we are not gathering in a large group, Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place in Kansas City on Sunday. We are walking everywhere — on city sidewalks, neighborhood streets and hiking trails. Joined by many others, I’m walking to honor those we love who are battling Alzheimer’s, the sixth-leading cause of death in America.

The mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and other dementias by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

My family has been deeply affected by a rare neurodegenerative disease — corticobasal degeneration, which my mother was diagnosed with at age 64. It is aggressive and untreatable, and we have watched the radiant woman we once knew be stolen from us. My hope is that my daughters won’t have to endure the same devastating heartbreak I have and that there are brighter days ahead for anyone battling these diseases.

So, on Sunday, I hope you walk, wear purple and consider making a donation so that some day we will celebrate the first Alzheimer’s survivor. Learn more at alzwalkkc.org. I hope you will walk with me.

- Emily Lane, Overland Park